k 



HISTORY 



OF 



WOONSOCKET. 



/ 



BY E. RICHARDSON, 



WOONSOCKET: 

S. S. FOSS, PRINTER, PATRIOT BUILDING, MAIN STREET. 

1876. 

/T 



8^ 



STATE OF RHODE ISLAKD, Etc. 
Ik Generai, Assembly, January Session, A. D. Kid. 
Joint Ecsoliitiou ou tlie Celebration of tlie Centennial in the several Cities ;ind To^nis. 
Kksolved, The House of Rcpvesentatives concurring tlierein, that in accorilance with the 
recommendation of the National Congress, the Governor be requested to invite the pcoph- 
of (he several towns and cities of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the 
appi'oaching Centennial Anniversai'y of our Kational Independence, and cause to have de- 
livered on that day an Historical Sketch of said town or city from its formation, and to have 
one copy of said sketch, in print or in manuscript, filed in the clerk's oHi<'e of said town or 
city, one copy in the otUce of the Secretary of State, aiul one copy in the oHice of the Li- 
brarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the progress 
of our institutions during the First Centennial of their existence; and that the Governor be, 
requested to communicate tliis invitation forthwith to the several 'J'owu and City Councils in 
tlie State. 

I certify the foregoing to be a true copj' of a resolution passed by the General 
Assembly of the State aforesaid, on the 20th day of April, A. D. 1876. 

^ t"^^ } Witness my hand and the Seal of the State, this l27th 

^ Z^ * ^I'ly of April, A. D. 1876. 

JOSHUA Jl. ADDE.MAN, 

Secretary of State. 



STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. 

Executive Department. 

Pkoviuence, April 27th, 1S76. 
To the Honorable Town Coinicil of the Town of Woonsocket. 

(iKNTLEMEN : 

I have the honor here^vith to enclose a duly ccrtilied copy of a Resolution passed by the 
(icneral Assembly at its recent Session, requesting me to invite the people of the several 
towns and cities of the State, to assemble in their several localities on the approaching Ceu- 
tcnnial Anniversary of our National Independence, and cause to luni- delivered on such day 
an Historical Sketch of said town or city from its formation. 

By pursuing the course suggested by the Resolution of the ( iciu ral Asscmhly, the people 
of the State will derive an amount of information which will be invaluable to the present 
generation, as sltowing the wonderAd progress of the several towns and cities since their 
foundation. 

It will also be of gi'cat value to future generations when tlie materials for such sketches, 
now accessible, will luivc been lost or destroyed hy accident, or become more or less eft'aced 
and illegible from time. 

'I'herefore, in pursuance of the request of the (ieneral Assembly, I respectfully aiul 
earnestly, through you, invite the people of your tounto carry out the contemplated cele- 
bration ou the Fourth day of July next. 

HENRY LIPPITT', Governor. 



Copy of a Resolution i>assed by the Town Council of Woonsocket, June S, 1870. 
Ill iiursuance of chapter 565 of the Public Laws, passed at the May Session, 1S76, by the 

General Assembly of the State, 
Resolved : That a sum not to exceed $825 be appropriated for a proper celebration of the 
approacliing Anniversary of our National Independence, and also for the purpose of printing 
and putting into book-form the "History of the Town," as prepared by Erastus Ricliardson, 
Esq., said sum to be expended under the direction ot the following Conmiittee : George A. 
Wilbur, John II. Shcnuan, George S. Read, Amos Sherman and L. C. Tourtellot. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Among the requirements of the American citizen, is that of cele- 
brating the natal day of his Country's Independence. It being a 
requirement which requires no sacrifice, it is generally performed 
with commendable zeal. He may be remiss in the discharge of many 
other of his obligations as a freeman and a patriot, but the observ- 
ance of the Fourth of July is seldom overlooked. He must either 
see or participate in a parade of some kind; and if he is denied the 
ecstasy in his own neighborhood, he seeks it elsewhere. 

The first public demonstration in "Woonsocket, that is worthy of 
mention, took place in ISoo. The literary exercises were held in the 
Baptist Meeting House. The dinner was eaten and the toasts drank 
in the Woonsocket Hotel, then kept by Mr. Cephas Ilolbrook. The 
orator of the day was Christopher Iloljinson, That there was the 
re(iuisite amount of "spread eagle" in this oration of Mr. Kobinson, 
r have no doubt, for at that period the American people required it 
in large doses at their Fourth of July celebrations. But I am 
equally confident that his oratorical flights were tempered with 
wit, good judgment and learning, for in all the town, State and 
national affairs in which our distinguished townsman has been a 
])roniinent actor during his long and useful life, these have been his 
distinguishing traits. 

The next celebration in Woonsocket was what is remembered to 
this day as the "Eoaring Celebration." This occurred in 18;j5, and 
was indeed a "roaring celebration," for reasons which the dignity of 
history prevents me from recording. The literary exercises were held 
in the Episcopal Meeting House. Jonathan E. Arnold was orator of 
the day. A bootli was erected on Ai'uold street, where the toasts were 
ti) l)e drank. Tristam Burgess and IIein\y Y. Cranston were ])resent. 
Tlie guests had comfortably seated tliemselves in the "l)ooth," Tris- 
tam Burgess had just arisen to respond to a toast, when a storm 
suddenly arose, and the company adjourned in a hurry to the Woon- 



6 HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 

socket Hotel, then kept by Messrs. Wliitcomb Brotlieis. Tlie rooms 
were close, unci the wine flowed freely. Many of the guests rolled 
under the table; and one of them jmnped on top of the table, and 
sang the "Star Spangled Banner." 

In 1S3S there Avas another "glorious" celebration. The oration 
was given by Edward II. Sprague in the Baptist Meeting House, 
and the Declaration was read by Christopher Robinson. The dinner 
and toasts were discussed in a vacant room of a V)uilding owned by 
Messrs. W. & L. A. Cook, on Main Street. It was at this cele- 
bration that a certain dignified citizen of the village honored the 
American Eagle with a toast and a speech which brought down the 
house. The escort duty to these celebrations was performed by the 
Bellingham Eifies, under the command of Abirani Wales, assisted by 
Lieutenant Landers. 

In 1846 occurred what is remembered to this day as the "Temper- 
ance Celebration." The church bells were rung at sunrise and 
sunset, and during the day the usual national salutes were fired. 
At ten o'clock a procession was formed on Market Square by Lyman 
A. Cook, Chief Marshal, assisted by Arnold Briggs and Peleg W. 
Lippitt. The line was as follows : 

Aid. Chief Marshal. Aid. 

United Brass Band. 

Woonsocket Guards. 

President (Jolm Bovden, Jr.). Chaplain (Kev. Mr. Talbot). 

Orator (James W. Smith). Reader (L. W. Ballon). 

Vice-Presidents : (Samuel Greene, George S. Wardwell, Samuel F. Man, Eli Pond, jr., 

George C. Ballon, Nelson Jeuckes and Dr. II. A. Potter). 

Committee of Arrangements. 

Revolutionary Pensioners. 

Choir. 

Members of General Assembly. 

Town Councils of Smithtield and Cumberland. 

(.)ther Town (Officers. 

Martha Wasliington Society. 

Woonsocket Total Abstinence Society. 

Hamlet Temperance Society. 

Woonsocket Young Men's Temperance Association. 

Woonsocket Fire Department. 

Odd Fellows. 

Delegations from Neighboring Towns. 

Citizens and Strangers. 

It moved down Clinton street, through Cross and Main streets, 
returning to Market Square; thence through Bernon, Bridge and 
(ireene streets, and through Centre Avenue to the Grove, where the 
literary exercises were held. The order of exercises at the Grove 
was as follows : 

Song. 

Prayer by RevrMr. Talbot. 

Song. 

Heading of the Declaration of Independence. 

Oration. 

Recitative and Chorus. 

Benediction. 

After which the line reformed and marched to "Liberty Hall." 
(This Avas a si»are room in a new mill of Mr. Edward Harris.) Here 



niSTOlIV OF WOONSOOKET. 7 

llie t>TU'sts, (■(Hisistiiip: of alxiut six liuiidrcd ladies and .^entleineii, 
])avtook of a collation. After the feast came the toasts and the 
speeches. The exciting theme of the day was the Tem]ieiance (jnes- 
tion, and Kins' Alcohol and the late King George were berated with 
extraordinary vehemence. The toast master was Colonel Edward II. 
Sprague, without whom no literary exercise in Woonsocket, in those 
days, was com])lete. The thirteen regular toasts were as follows, 
each being aceoni])anipd. of course, with jiertinent and ])oint(Ml 
remarks: 

1. "The Event and tlie Day which we Celebrate." 

2. "The Constitution." 

:'. " The President of the United States." 

4. " The Army and aS'avy." 

."). " Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce." 

(). " Tlie White Banner of Temperance." 

7. "The Public Schools of Xew England." 

s. " The Memory of Washington." 

1). " The Surviving Soldiers of the Eevolution." 

10. " Liberty of Conscience." 

11. "The American Flag." 

12. "Rhode Island." 

1:1. " Our Fair Countrywomen." 

After which came volunteer toasts by the guests. That of Colonel 
Tourtellot bore off the palm, and was: "Rhode Island— Small in 
territory and in nothing else." L. W. Ballon (now our Hon. Rei)re- 
sentative to Congress) was present, and gave one of his characteristic 
addresses, v.hieh then, as now, vras received Avith respect and ap- 
plause. 

The next grand c(>lebration in AVo()nso(;ket was in 1848, and oc- 
curred (by the Avay) on the same day of the week as that of this 
Centennial year (Tviesday). Tlie chief marshal was Colonel Arnold 
Briggs. The i)lace of the literary exercises and of the collation, the 
reader of the Declaration and the toast master, were the same as 
before. But the orator was a young man who has since become 
wiilely known throughout Rhode Island, and to whom I am largely 
indebted, not only I'or much valuable historic material, but for many 
other favors of a personal nature—I refer to Hon. Thomas Steere. 
The oration received the applause which it merited, and was referred 
to by the press in tlattering terms. At the banquet were the thirteen 
regular toasts and the customary patriotic speeches. The wit of the 
day was P. P. Todd, Esfj. Two of his toasts given on the occasion 
are worth preserving: "Thomas Steere, the orator of the day, though 
a Steere in years, he is a real ox for Fourth of July celebrations." 
" Henry Clay (the country's Harry) and Edward Ilanis (our Harry)— 



8 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

tlie one in favor of home 'producers^, the other ever ready to furnish 
this liall for home consumers.." In tlie evening there were lire-works, 
given on rafts anchored on the Bernon Pond. 

There liave been many celebrations in "Woonsocket quite worthy of 
mention, but I pass on to tliat of last year. This was quite unique 
in its character, and partook more of the nature of a fair than of 
a celebration. But as it was a sort of introduction to the Grand 
National Centennial Celebration, our citizens were enthusiastic in 
its observance. The exercises took place on the farm of Mr. Eensa- 
lier A. Jillson. It was gotten up by the ladies for the purpose of 
raising money in furtherance of the national project. The President 
was ]Mrs. Cyrus Arnold, assisted by almost every other woman in 
town. After the "clam-bake," which was served in a capacious 
tent, came the literary exercises, which were conducted by Hon. L. 
W. Ballon. The Declaration was read l)y Charles F. Ballou. The 
oration was given by Erastus Eichardson, and was in rhyme. Pol- 
lowing the "Centennial Epic" were eloquent and stirring speeches 
by Hon. L. W. Ballou, liev. P. Denison, Colonel Amos Sherman, 
Colonel James ^V. Smyth, Hon. A. J. Elwell, Hon. Thomas Steere, 
Edwin Metcalf, Esq., and Rev. C. J. White. Between the addresses 
the Glee Club enlivened the occasion with spirited and appropriate 
songs. 

Pinally comes the Grand Centennial Celebration of 1870. This 
celebration of the Fourth of July began on the od. There was 
probably more noise put into a given space on the eve of the Fourth 
than was ever before accomplished in the same period since the set- 
tlement of Northern Rhode Island. Tin horns were tooted, cannon 
fired, Roman candles and sky-rockets were sent up in all directions, 
houses were illuminated, and a grand torch-light procession of our 
firemen, headed by the Cornet Band, paraded the streets. On the 
morning of the Fourth, the Antiques and Horribles, under the com- 
mand of Grand Mogul Prank M. Cornell, came out in full force and 
costume. It was the most horrible display that ever limped and 
hobbled through a civilized community. The grand civic and mili- 
tary procession moved from Greene street about ten o'clock A. M., 
passing direct to Cold Spring Grove, where the literary exercises 
were held. The procession was as follows: 

Platoon of Police, in charge of Sergeant Allen. 

Chief Marshal L. C. Tourtcllot. 

First Division. 

Aids : Captain Charles M. Arnold and !Major S. H. Brown. 

Woonsocket Cornet Band, B. W. Nichols leader, tiventy-five pieces. 

Escort : Co. A, Third Battalion, John R. Waterhouse commanding, twenty-nine muskets. 

Committee of Arrangements. 

Orator. 

Reader of the Declaration of Independence. 

Pi-esident of the Day and Chaplain. 

Ilonorahle Town Council, Senator, and Representatives of General Assembly. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCICET. 9 

Members of Congress, Clergy of the Town and vicinity. ^^ 

Disabled Soldiers. f^ 

Press. 
Thirty-eight Young Ladies, representing the States of the Union. 
St. John Society, Jos. Dauis, President, seventy members. 

Second Division. 

Division Marshal, Michael Baggan. 

Aids : William Powers and Daniel Ahearn. 

Uniou Brass Brand, twenty-live pieces, Professor Leavy leader. 

National Flags. 

Civic Societies : Temperance Cadets, fifty members. 

Father Mathew Temperance Society, thirty members. 

No. '2, Benevolent Aid Society, fifty members. 

A Jaunting Car, in which five Young Ladies represented the four Provinces of Ireland 

and the Goddess of Liberty. 

No. 3, Shamrock Society, forty members. 

No. 4, Ancient Order of Hibernians, eighty members. 

No. 5, Chnstian Doctrine Society, forty-five members. 

Third Division. 

Marshal : Frank Cornell. Aid : O. Roberts. 

Woonsocket Steamer Co. No. 1, Richard Barnett captain, twenty members, with machine 

trimmed with evergreen and a profusion of flags and flowers, two large flags 

bearing dates, representing 1776 and 1876. 

Social Steamer Co. No. 2, James Piekford foreman, eighteen members, with machine 

triumied with red, white and blue, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers in smoke stack. 

Old Rotary, dated 1825. 

Elliott Uook and Ladder Co., fifteen members, William H. Smith captain. 

And a long Line of Citizens in carriages and on foot. 

An'iving at the Grove, where platforms had been erected for tho.se 
wlio took part in the exercises, the Choir, consisting of one hundred 
voices, assisted by the Cornet Band, and under the direction of Prof. 
8. X. Lougee, sang "Old Hundred" with grand effect. After which, 
Judge George A. Wilbur, chairman of the Committee of Arrange- 
ments, introduced the Hon. Francello G. Jillson, President of the 
Town Council, as President of the Day, who opened the exercises l)y 
saying: 

Felloio Citizens:—! congratulate you upon being permitted to wit- 
ness this centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence 
of the thirteen Colonies, upon which Declaration was founded our 
national existence and Government, and from whicli thirteen Colonies 
have arisen thirty-eight great, powerful and wealthy States, bound 
together for each otlier's welfare and ]»rotection— then rebels, now 
one of the most powerful nations of the globe. Eepresentatives of 
the various nations of the earth have assembled to-day in the very 
city and upon the very spot where that memorable Declaration was 
adopted and signed, to congratulate us as a nation upon our success- 
ful existence and wonderful ])rogress, at the same time exhibiting to 
us as peace-offerings the ])roducts of their lands, industry and skill. 
'JMierefore, it is indeed fitting tliat the jieople of these United States 
should assemble together in their various towns and cities, and thank 
the God of nations for the protection, guidance and progress which 
He has vouchsafed to us in the past hundred years, and pray for tlie 
continuance of Ilis favor and blessing in the century upon wliich we 
now enter; to review our history, botli as a nation and as towns and 



10 HISTORY OP WOONSOCKET. 

cities; to talvc, i'resli courage, and strengthen and enlarge our purpose 
for tiie coming years; but, above all, to thank God that Ave are now 
in very deed wiitcci, free and independent, and that not the clank of 
tlie chains of a single slave is now heard within our borders, but all, 
whether of high or low estate, equally enjoy the rights of personal 
libei'ty. Let us, therefore, attend with reverent hearts to prayer by 
the Chaplain of the Day, Kev. J. E. Hawkins. 

After the prayer by the Chaplain of the Day, the Choir sang the 
"Angel of Peace." 

Mr. Jillson then followed with an eloquent and stirring speech, in 
which he Iniefly recounted some of the Revolutionary scenes in 
which our State took an active part. He then introduced Colonel 
Henry Ilolbrook llol)inson, the reader of the Declaration of Inde- 
]iendence, who put a. meaning and a soul into his rendering of this 
immortal document Avhich awakened a thrill in the breasts of all. 

An original piece, entitled "Columbia's Flag," composed by Prof . 
Spencer Lane for the occasion, was then sung, and received a well- 
merited applause. 

Xext came the oration by Erastus Richardson, which consisted of 
extracts from the following History. 

After the oration the "Centennial Hymn" was sung, and the exer- 
cises at the Grove were closed with benediction by Rev. J. L. Miller. 

The line then reformed, and completed the route of march to 

THE soldiers' MONUMENT. 

Tlie young ladies representing the thirty-eight States of the Union 
encircled it, and the various organizations, civic and military, 
massed. The Hon. Latimer W. Ballon, M. C, was called upon by 
tlie President, and taking position at the base, said that it was very 
appropriate that on this day we should come here and gather about 
the monument, in memory of those who liad given their lives for 
freedom, and acknowledge that all are now equal, with no East, no 
West, no Xorth, no South. He was glad tliat on this occasion it had 
been deemed appropriate that the young and beautiful should come 
and sing songs of praise. He hoped that on the Fourth of July, 1976, 
the coiuitry will bear tlie same relative progress in wealth, prosperity 
and greatness that the present bears to 1776. The young ladies then 
united in singing "America," accompanied by the Cornet Band, with 
impressive effect, after wliich Chief Marshal Tourtellot announced 
the parade dismissed. 

AFTER THE PARADE, 

Social Steamer Co., Ko. 2, Captain James Pickford, invited Steamer 
No. 1 and Elliot Hook and Ladder Co. to a grove near their engine- 
liouse, where a model Rhode Island clam-bake was enjoyed by tlie 
firemen ;ind families, with the Board of Engineers and a few friends 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 11 

as invited guests. Some two hundred sat down at tlie long tables, 
which were hiden with a tempting display of native bivalves in 
every conceivable shape, with fruit and ice-cream as a sequel. After 
justice had been done to this pleasant episode of the daj', an hour was 
given over to greetings, song and sentiment, and the bond of unison 
and fraternal love was flrmly cemented. The Woonsocket Guards, 
with invited guests, dined at the Woonsocket Hotel, and made merry 
for an hour or more in an informal, social way. The JNlitchel Guards 
had a target -shoot on the island, and participated in the merry 
scenes at the picnic. The picnic by the societies of St. Charles 
parish was very liberally patronized, some two thousand people at- 
tending, and a series of athletic sports kept up the interest till dark. 
Among the attractions was a base-ball contest, in which the Oceans, 
of Providence, defeated the Mutuals, of this town— 13 to 4. Excel- 
lent order was maintained, and all Avho attended seemed to regard 
the picnic as the most enjoyable of any ever held in town. 

THE FIREAVORKS 

in the evening were a disappointment to some v.ho did not take 
position near enough to fully enjoy the display, Init the programme 
was carried out, terminating with a huge lionfire that lit up the 
country for miles around. 

IN CONCLUSION, 

it may not be amiss to say that the Committee of Arrangements- 
Judge George A. Wilbur, Major George S. Eead, Councilman J. II. 
Sherman, Colonel Amos Sherman and General L. C, Tourtellot— are 
entitled to much consideration for their faithful, successful and gra- 
tuitous services. 

The following was the Introduction to the Historical Sketch: 

Two hundred years liave rolled away since the axe of the pioneer 
lirst broke the solitude of these regions. While the first settlers 
were erecting their rude cabins and struggling with I>fature to unveil 
her hidden charms, King Phili]), with the renuiant of his tribe, was 
marching uj) the Yalley of the JJlackstone, on his terrible mission of 
revenge. 

A century passed. The red-skinned enemy had long since ceased 
to be an object of terror, and the red-coated enemy was just making 
his appearance. In the meantime, a saw-mill, a corn-mill, an iron- 
mill and a meeting-house had found a nestling-i)lace among these 
hills; tlie hum of the si)inning-whpe] and the clink of the farmer's 
scythe upon the meadow had liushed the war-whoop of the savage, 
and the nucleus of a busy hamlet had taken root in these parts. 

Another century. The spinning-wheel is di"ai)ed with col)webs 
in tlie ancient attic; the scythe hangs rusting upon the dying 



12 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

iipple-tree; the meadow is submerged beneath the waters of the 
river; the busy hamlet has outlived its usefulness, and a new order 
of things has been inaugurated. 

Amid the strange events which have crowded themselves into the 
last two centuries, Woonsocket has played no unimportant part. In 
the political, the industrial, the religious and the educational ques- 
tions which have arisen from time to time, her voice has not been 
silent, and her influence has not been powerless. 

It will, therefore, be a pleasant and a profitable task to trace the 
progress of our busy hamlet from its rude beginning to its present 
incompleteness. 



History 



CHAPTER I. 

VV THE LEFT BANK OF THE KIVEE, FROM REHOBOTH 
TO WOONSOCKET. 

About the year 1641 a company was formed at Wey- 
mouth, Mass., consisting of the Rev. Samuel Newman* and 
a part of his congregation. They purchased a tract of land 
of Massasoit, and three or four years afterwards removed to 
their new purchase, which at the time was called " Sea- 
cuncke," which being interpreted, means " Black Goose " — 
a name applied by the Indians to the locality from occa- 
sional settlers on the adjacent river, rather than the Rev. 
Mr. Newman and his flock. Here aroundf the Great Plain 
(Seeko)ik Plain) they erected their dwellings, with their 
meeting-house in the centre, and named their settlement 
after one of the cities of Edom — a name selected b}- Mr. 
Newman, for, said he, the Lord hath made room for us — 
the word Rehoboth being from the Hebrew word " reliob," 
signifying a broadway, plateau or forum. 



*Mr. Newman was born at Banbury, England, in 1600. He was educated at Oxford, and 
began his ministry in his native country. Un emigrated to America, arriving at Dorclicster 
about the year 1038. The following year he removed to Weymouth, and about the year 1044 
came to Rehoboth, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died July 5, 1603. He is 
spoken of as a " deep student, an animated preacher, and an excellent and pious man." 
Among his works was a "Concordance of the Bible," which far surpassed any that hitherto 
appeared, and was the basis of the celebrated "Cambridge Concordance." 

t'riie proprietors first selected their lots, and erected their dwellings in a semi-circle, the 
circle opening towards Pawtucket, or Seekonk river, with their parsonage and meeting-house 
in the centre. The circle was called the " Ring of the Town." It cau still be seen in the 
present location of the houses, in an eastern view from the meeting-house. 

["Peck Genealogy," page 1", note.] 



14 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The first settlers of Reliobotli had j)itched their tents in a 
barren spot. Previous to their coming the Indians had so 
nearly exhausted the natural fertility of the soil, that after a 
short residence of about twenty years, they were forced to 
look about them for more fertile fields, on which to pasture 
tlieir cattle and plant their corn. Thereupon Capt. Thomas 
Willitt* was employed by the town, and empowered by the 
court, to make a new purchase from the natives. This was 
consummated in 1661 ; and Wamsutta, the son of Massasoit, 
and brother of King Philip, yielded the large territory 
which was afterwards known as the Rehoboth North 
Purchase, t 

That portion of this territory which afterwards Ijecame 
Cumberland, was for many years "in controversy" between 
Rhode Island and Massachusetts ; indeed, the jurisdiction of 
the northern portion thereof, and which includes Eastern 
Woonsocket, is an open question even to this day. To the 
ignorance and the carelessness of English Sovereigns these 
troubles are mainly due. Probably supposing that the Narra- 
gansett (Blackstone) river flowed due South, they bounded 



*Tliis man deserves more thsiu a passing notice, lie was born abont the year 1610. Ho 
arrived at Plymouth -ivheu in his twentieth year. Previous to this he had spent the greater 
part of his life in Holland, where he acquired the intimate knowledge of the language, man- 
ners and customs of the inhabitants, which in after times made him " so acceptable " to the 
Dutch of New York. In 1647, he succeeded Miles Standish as military commander at Ply- 
mouth. In 1651 he was elected one of the Governor's assistants, which office he retained 
fourteen yeai's. In 1660 he became an inhabitant of Rehoboth. After the surrender of New 
York to the English in 1664, he was elected the first English Maj-or of the cit}'. He was 
twice chosen to the position. So much confidence had the Dutch in his integrity that he was 
by them chosen umpire to determine the disputed boundary between New York and New 
Haven. He returned from New York to Rehoboth, where he passed the remainder of his 
days. He died August 4, 1674. His remains now lie buried and neglected, at the head of 
Bullock's Cove. He was the original purchaser of the Taunton North Purchase (now 
Norton, Mansfield and Easton), of Wollomonopoag (now Wrentham) , and of the Rehoboth 
North Purchase. 

fTlie description of this purchase is as follows : From tlie bounds of Rehoboth ranging 
upon Pawtucket river, unto a place called Waweypounshag, the place where one Black- 
stone sojourneth, and ranging along said river tmto a place called Messanegtacaueh ; and 
from tills upon a straight line crossing through the woods unto the uttermost bounds of a 
place called Mamautapett or Wading River (probably the source of the Ten Mile River), 
and from said river one mile and a half upon an East line, and from thence upon a South line 
unto the bounds of the town of Rehoboth. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 15 

Plymouth Colony on the west by the river, and Ilhode 
Island on the east by a line extending due North from the 
Pawtucket Falls to the southern line of Massachusetts. 
They defined the southern line of Massachusetts to be a 
line from a point " three miles south of the southei-nmost 
waters of the Charles river," overlooking the difficulties 
which might arise were one party to construe the " waters 
of the Charles river" to be the main stream, and another 
party to define them as the waters Avhich ran into it. As 
might have been antici])ated, this carelessness resulted in 
Massachusetts claiming her southern line to be nearly ar. far 
south as where the village of Manville now is, and in Rhode 
Island claiming her northern line to l)e even further north 
than where it is now established. 

But this dispute was not the source of much difficulty 
until about the year 1694, when the Rehohoth North Fur- 
chase was incorporated into a township and named Attle- 
horough. It had then become thickly settled enough to 
reward the tax-gatherer for his annual visit, and the dispute 
begun in earnest. The locality became famous as " disputed 
territory," and was known as the " Attleborough Gore." 
As the inhabitants of the " Gore " were more in sympathy 
with their neighbors of Rhode Island, the officers from Mas- 
sachusetts were frequently sent away with empty hands and 
with sore heads. At the annual Rhode Island ebctions 
officers were appointed for the territory, Avhich tended to 
increase the strife, and conveyances of real estate thereon 
\vGre placed both upon the records of Rhode Island and of 
Massachusetts, containing the clause, the " Gore of land in 
controversy between Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island."* 

Whether the Rehoboth North Purchase extended as far 

*Thc deed of John Arnold to liis son Anthony, given August 24, 1733, and ivhicli conveyed 
what is now the most valuable portion of our town, namely, the estates between Market and 
Monument Squares, reads as follows: " Thirty acres in the townsliip of Smithfield, on the 
east of the (Jreat Kivcr, and is a part of the (iorc of land in controversy," etc. 

["Smithfield Records," Hook 1, papc 72. J 



16 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

north as Woonsocket, I sliall not venture to discuss. It is 
one of the many questions which have taxed the legal skill 
of centuries without avail, and I am content to leave it 
where it is — in the courts. Committees were appointed 
from time to time by Rhode Island and Massachusetts to run 
our northern line. On one of these was Richard Arnold, 
and on another was his son John, of whom I shall have 
much to say in succeeding chapters. But the point, " three 
miles south from the southernmost waters of the Cliarles 
river," could never be satisfactorily found, and thus the case 
rests to-day. Petitions were frequently and numerously 
signed by the inhabitants of the " Gore," praying to he set 
off to Rhode Island. Indeed, in 1729 Attleborough herself 
prayed to become a member of our little colony. At last, in 
1746, by a decision of George II. in Council, the " Gore " 
was detached from Attleborough, annexed to the county of 
Providence, and named in honor of Prince William, Duke of 
Cumberland, 

The first election of officers for the new town of Cumber- 
land was made February 10, 1746-7. For one hundred 
and thirty years the inhabitants of Woonsocket, who lived 
east of the river, participated in its annual elections, until 
at last they were permitted to set up housekeeping for them- 
selves. This act was consummated January 31st, 1867. 

Although that portion of Woonsocket which lies east of 
the river is an offspring of old Cumberland, it is a curious 
fact that the territory which eventually became the property 
of the Arnold family, and which now comprises the chief 
business portion of the town, is now held under the Mendon 
instead of the Rehoboth proprietary. Whether the lands 
were not deemed worth quarreling over, or whether the 
Mendonites liad become too firmly fixed thereon to be easily 
removed, at all events, the claim of Mendon, if she ever 
made any, was never conceded, and Mendon* may now be 

*Tiie Indian name for tlie lnvgc territory whicli attc-rwiirtls became Tvlendon was Qunslia- 



HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 17 

fairly considered as tlio parent of the most valuable portion 
of Eastern Woonsocket. 

A line running nearly south from a stone now standing a 
little east of Jenckesville, to its intersection with the river 
near the Hamlet mills, was claimed byMendon as its eastern 
l)oundary, and the river as its southern and western boun- 
daries. I will now briefly follow down the land titles of 
this territory from its original Mendon proprietors to the 
Arnold Family. 

May 19, 1669, the General Court at Boston granted two 
hundred acres of land to Samuel Chapin, of Springfield, for 
" services rendered." From a plat of this estate, now in the 
archives at Boston — a copy of which was kindly furnished 
me by Dr. J. G. Metcalf, of Mendon — I judge this land to 
have Ijeen in the vicinity of the " Falls." This man never 
came here to reside ; and in 1716 the Court granted two 
hundred acres to his son, " in lieu of the two hmidred acres 
granted to his father." But I think that the first grant, or 
a portion of it, was retained in the possession of the Chapin 
family until November 15, 1710. On that day Capt. Seth 
Chapin conveyed the following described estate to John 
Arnold :* 

Forty-two acres and eighty rods, bounded on the east by 
the Great (^alias the Nipniuck) River, by the saw-mill ; 
southerly, upon said river ; westerly, part on said river and 
part on land of Capt. Richard Arnold (the father of John) ; 
northerly on Common, by a direct line one lunidred and 
twenty rods ; and easterly upon Common down to the river, 
Avith an allowance for a roadway down to the saw-mill and 
to the Wadhig Place below tlie "Falls." 



liiuisc or Squnsliopog. It was purchased of tlic Indians by Moses Paine and Peter Braokett, 
ol" 15raintree, April 22, 1062. The cousideraliou tlicrcfor was £24. The witnesses to the 
instrument were John Elliot, sr., John Elliott, jr., and Daniel Weld. The pnrchase was 
incorporated JMay 15, 1667, and May 12, 1670 ; the original purchaser-^ assigned their rights 
to the selectmen of the town. 

*I am indebted to Moses Roberts, Esq., for the original document. It is copied among the 
papers of Sullblk Co., Mass., Book 65, pasrc 31. 

a 



18 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

A straight line, from u point near where "Dr. Ballou's 
bridge " is now located, to a point on the river near the 
Clinton mill, and the winding course of the river from one 
point to the other, will encircle the above-mentioned estate. 

This was conveyed in after times by John Arnold to his 
son Anthony, by Anthony to his brother Seth, and by Seth 
to his son James, who, in the last generation, disposed, of it 
to various parties. 

May 20, 1711, twenty-five acres Avere laid, out by the pro- 
prietors of Mendon to James Bick. About the same time 
lands were laid out to Jonathan Sprague and. Thomas San- 
ford. These three estates were probably adjoining. Bick's 
homestead was a little above " Dr. Ballou's bridge." 
Sprague lived near the new mill of Harris Woolen Co., at 
Mill river, but probably owned lands in the vicinity of what 
is now Monument Square. The residence of Sanford I am 
unable to locate. 

William Arnold (the son of John) purchased the whole 
of the Bick and Sanford estates and a portion of Sprague's, 
thus becoming the proprietor of a belt of land adjoining the 
section before described, and extending from the river above 
" Dr. Ballou's bridge " across the country to the river again 
below the Clinton mill. That portion of this estate which 
was situated in the vicinity of the Monument House was 
conveyed August 12, 1747, by William Arnold to his nephew 
Moses. The heirs of Moses sold a part of their inheritance 
to Joseph Arnold, the grandson of Daniel, who Avas the 
brother of William aforesaid, and another portion to Prince 
Aldrich, a negro. Cato street, named in honor of one of 
the heirs to this last-mentioned property, passes through the 
centre thereof. The remainder of William Arnold's estate, 
extending from where the Providence Railroad now is, to 
the river above " Dr. Ballou's bridge," eventually passed 
into the hands of Darius D. Buffam, where I will leave it 
for the present. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 19 

In 1719, and again in 1749, lands Avere laid out to Ebe- 
nczer Cook. He probably increased his estate by purchas- 
ing- the lands which were laid out to Samuel Thayer, July 6, 
1705, consisting of forty acres " on both sides of Mill river, 
near the Great River." August 19, 1721, fifty-five acres 
were laid out to Jonathan Richardson, " beginning at James 
Bick's land, then by Ebenezer Cook's land, and so running 
near where John Sprague did live" (at Mill river, as before- 
mentioned). The lands of Cook and Richardson were 
adjoining. Cook lived at the Social, and Richardson some- 
where in the vicinity of the Harris homestead. 

This belt of land, extending from the river at Cold Spring, 
across the country to the river again at the Social, was con- 
veyed by the original proprietors to Daniel Arnold, the son 
of John and brother of William before-mentioned. Daniel 
bequeathed this large estate to his grandson Joseph. Joseph 
conveyed the Social portion to his sons, Joseph P. and 
Smith, and gave his son Benjamin that portion which 
extended to, and included, the Cold Spring Grove. There 
are many now living who remember the farm-house of Ben- 
jamin Arnold, and locate the well thereto where the front 
yard of Smith Brown's residence now is. 

March 19, 1705, lands were laid out to Nicholas Cook on 
tlie east of the Great River and on both sides of Peter's 
river. The larger part of tliis outer belt of land, and which 
was originally owned by Cook, Boyce, Sewell, Chace, and 
perhaps others, eventually became the property of the Aldrich 
family. 



Appendix to Chapter L 



A LIST OF CUMBERLAND TOWN OFFICERS, 

FROM ITS INCORPORATION, IN 1747, TO THE INCORPORATION OF 
WOONSOCKET, IN 1807. 

TnE first town officers were chosen February 10, 1746. The year at 
that time began in March, so that it was really 1747. These officers 
served until the reguhir election in June. The reader will, therefore, 
understand that while I use the date 1746, it is simply as a matter of 
convenience. For instance, David Raze was elected Town Sergeant, 
February 10, 1746. On the following June he was succeeded by Uriah 
Jillson. My record will read: David Raze, 1746; Uriah Jillson, 1747. 

TOWN CLERKS. 

Job Bartlett 1746 tJohn Ro^nsrs 1799 

Daniel Peck 1748 Stephen Joslin 1804 

John Dexter 1751 Pardon Sayles 18:30 

David Dexter 1766 Lewis B. Arnold 1842 

John Dexter 1768 Pardon Sayles 1854 

* Jolin Singer Dexter 1785 William G. xirnold 1855 

Jotham Carpenter 1701 F. G. Jillson 1865 



*Joliii S. Dexter was chosen in November, 17S5, npon the decease of his jiredecessor. 
fJohn Rogers -v^as chosen in February, 1799, upon the resignation of his predecessor. 

TOWN TREASURERS. 

Samuel Bartlett 1746 Stephen Joslin 1799 

Uriah Jillson 1755 Isaac Raze 1804 

Abner Lapham 1764 Ariel Cook 1814 

Isaac Kelley 1769 Isaac Raze 1815 

Abiel Brown 1770 Ariel Cook 1816 

Philip Capron 1775 Isaac Raze 1818 

Nathan Staples 1778 Arnold W. Jenckes 1821 

Abner Lapham 1783 Barton Cook 1838 

Elijah Brown 1788 Gladding O. Thompson 1842 

Col. Simon Whipple 1790 Williani Whipple 1852 

Elijah Brown 1794 George Cook 1855 

J olni Rogers 1798 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 21 

TOWN" SERGEANTS. 

David IJa/.o 1746 Amos Arnold 180;) 

Uriah .1 illsou 1747 David ]5;irtl('tt 1805 

Joiiatliau Armsbury 1748 Eliliu DaiiiiiL;- 1812 

Abiel Jirowu — 17")9 Jabez Annsl)ury 18i:> 

Isaac Kellv 17(52 Fenner ]Jrowii 1817 

Joliu Fisk 1 70.") Ezekiel B. llrown 181S 

Eufiis JJartlett 1775 Olncy IJallou 181'.) 

Benjamin Ballon 1779 Jonathan Sweet 1821 

William Sheldon 1781 Amos Cook, jr 1828 

Gilbert Grant 1782 Ariel C. Wliip])le 1842 

Jeremiah Armsbnry 1785 Lucien J. Arnold 18.55 

Elijah Fjrown ". 178(3 George C. AVilder 1850 

Capt. Ama7.iah\Veatlierhead.l7S7 Horace M. Pierce 1857 

Barney ( 'lark 17i»l Elijah B. Craig is.5!) 

Jeremiah Armsbury 1793 Horace M. Pierce 1800 

David Bartlett 1797 

PRESIDENTS OF THE COUNCIL. 

Job Bartlett 1740 Job Jenckt's 1828 

Jos. Brown 1747 Levi Ballon 1829 

Jol) Bartlett 1748 Davis Cooke 1835 

Jeremiah Wliii)])le 1754 Jos. A. Scott 1839 

Nathaniel Koliinson 1704 Davis Cooke 1840 

Jeremiah AVhipple 17(>7 Jos. A. Scott 1812 

Daniel Wilkinson ..1770 Olnev Ballon 184() 

James Dexter 1771 Abner Ilaskill 1849 

John L;ii)ham 1779 Lyman Jjurlingame 1852 

Jvcvi ]5allou 1789 Fenner Brown. 18-54 

John Lapham 1790 Willard H. Whiting 18.55 

Levi Bartlett 1810 Davis Cooke " 18.50 

Davis Cooke 1810 Turner Haskell 1801 

Levi Bartlett 1818 William E. Hubl )ard 1802 

William Wliipi)le 1819 aSTathaniel Elliott 1803 

Jabez Armsbury 1821 James M. Cook 1804 

Levi Cooke 1823 J. B. Aldrich 18()5 

Levi Ballon 1824 James C. Molten 1800 

SECOND COUNCILMEN. 

Jos. Brown 1740 Levi (yooke 1818 

Josiah Cook 1747 Levi Ballon 1821 

Nathaniel Jillson, jr 1748 Amos Whipple 1824 

Daniel Wilkinson 17-54 Levi Cooke 1828 

Nathaniel Jillson 1755 William Whipple 1829 

Daniel Jenckes 1704 Levi Cooke 1830 

Nathaniel Rol)inson 1707 Z^fowry Tat't 1839 

James Dexter 1708 Jervis Cooke 1841 

Nathan Staples 1771 Columbia Tinglev 1842 

Daniel Jenckes 1772 James AVilkinson 1844 

Nathan Staples 1770 Abner Haskill 1845 

John J^ai)ham 1777 (Jeorge L. Dana 1849 

Enoch Weatherliead 1779 John E. J^rown 18.50 

Levi ]>allou 1780 John A. Corv Iv8.53 

Capt. Ste])hen Whipple 1789 Willard H. ^Vhiting 18-54 

Elisha 'Waterman 1793 Lovet Haven 1855 

Jason Xewell 1794 Abner Haskill 18-50 

Jesse Brown 1790 Olney B. Scott 18-57 



22 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Stephen Whipple 1801 

Levi Ballon 1802 

Elisha Waterman 1806 

Nathaniel Scott 1808 

Levi Cooke 1811 

Stephen Whipple (2d) 1816 

THIRD coukcil3ie:n\ 



Eliiah B. ]S'ewell 1800 

Nathaniel Elliott 1861 

Olney B, Scott 1863 

Clinton Pnfter 1865 

James E, Smith 1806 



David Whipple 1746 

Nathaniel Ballon 1747 

Gideon Tower 1748 

Daniel Jenckes 1754 

Job liartlett 1757 

Daniel Jenckes 1760 

James Dexter 1764 

Daniel Jenckes 1767 

James Brown 1768 

Nathan Staples 1772 

Peter Darling 1776 

Jos. Raze, jr 1779 

Capt. James Lovett 1781 

John Bartlett 1782 

Natlianiel Shepherdson 1785 

Stephen Whipple 1786 

Capt. Elisha Waterman 1780 

Jos. Piaze 1793 

Benjamin S. Walcott 1705 

Absolom Ballon 1706 

Stephen Wliipple 1799 

Abner Ballon 1801 

Jason Newell 1803 

Absolom Ballon 1804 

Levi Cooke 1810 

William Aldrich 1811 

Abner Balk)n 1814 

William AVliipple 1815 

Bennett Whipple 1816 



Nathaniel Scott 1818 

Pardon Sayles 1820 

I-^evi Ballon 1821 

Arnos Whipple 1S23 

Jos. Whipple (2d) 1S24 

Levi Cooke 182() 

Abner Haskill 1S28 

Jonathan Sweet 1829 

Jere. AVhipple 1830 

Nathan Harris 1837 

Ezra Blake 1839 

Alfred Arnold 1841 

Jos. C. Aldrich 1842 

Abner Ilaskill 1844 

Leonard Wakefield 1845 

George L. Dana 1847 

John E. Brown 1819 

Lyman Bnrlingame , 1S50 

John A. Cory 1852 

James R. Case 1853 

Alfred Ilixon 1854 

Christr. C. Gates 1855 

Bailey E. Borden 1856 

Elisha Gaslcill 1857 

William 0. Mason 1860 

Warren J. Ballon 1861 

Ellis L. Blake 1863 

James W. Taf t 18(;5 

James E. Smith 1866 



rOUKTH COUNCILMEN. 

Jacob Bartlett, jr 1746 Levi Ballon 1818 

Nathaniel Jillson, jr 1747 Amos Whiiiple 1821 

AVilliani Walcott 1748 Jos. Whip])le (2d) 1823 

David Whipj)le 1750 Nathaniel Aldrich 1824 

Robert Aldrich 1752 Palemon Walcott 1825 



Ichabob Peck 1754 

John Nicholson 1755 

Daniel Jenckes 1758 

Gideon Tower .1760 

Nathaniel Robinson 1762 

Peter Darling 1764 

J ames Dexter 1767 

Daniel Jenckes .1708 

Peter Darling 1772 

Levi Ballon 1776 

Stephen Whi])ple 1779 

Capt. Elisha Waterman 1780 

Nathaniel Shepherdson 1783 



William Whiit])le 1826 

Jeremiah Whipple 1828 

James Whipple 1829 

James Weatherhead 1830 

Nathan Harris .1833 

James Weatherhead. 1837 

Nelson Jenckes 1838 

Jervis Cooke 1839 

Tyler Daniels 1841 

James Weatherhead 1842 

Jerry A. Olney 1844 

George L. Dana 1845 

Abner Jillson 1847 



IITSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 



23 



Capt. Amos Wliimile 17^5 

Aiuos Wliipple 17S() 

Jos. Kaze 17SS 

Jason Newell I7'.t;] 

IJenjaiuiii S. Walcott 171U 

Nathaniel Jillson 1705 

Stephen AVliipplc 17'.)<) 

John Walcott 17'.»1) 

Absolom IJallou 1801 

Jacob Smith 180:] 

Abner Ballon 180(> 

William Aklrich 1810 

Enoch Arnold 1811 

Samuel Grant, jr 1814 

IJeuben "Whipple 1815 

Abner Ballon 1810 



Lyman Tourtellot 1848 

Lyman Burlingame 1849 

J(')hn A. Corrv 1850 

James E. Case 1852 

Willard II. Whitney 1853 

William C. Crapon 1854 

Thomas Carjienter 1855 

AVilliam II. Pierce 1850 

Jason Newell 1857 

Potter Ct. Hazard 1850 

William M. Ptawson 1800 

William E. Hubbard 1801 

Turner Haskell 18()2 

William M. Eawson 18(;:J 

James F. Smith 1805 

Batavia Matthewson 18G0 



FIFTH COUNCILMEN. 



Nathaniel Ballon 1740 

Willhim Walcott 1747 

Daniel Wilkinson 1748 

Charles Cajn'on 1752 

Picnjamin Tower 1754 

Gideon Tower 1758 

Elisha Newell 1700 

Ariel Ballon 1702 

James Dexter 170:3 

James Cargill 1704 

Peter Darling 1700 

John Gould 1708 

Nathaniel Carpenter I70i) 

Ilobert Aklrich 1772 

Nathaniel Jillson 177o 

Amos Arnold 1775 

Koger Sheldon 1770) 

Thljmas Joslin 177'J 

Cai)t. Jos. Tlllinghast 1781 

Simon Whipple 1782 

Nebadiah Wilkinson 1783 

Capt. Amos Whipple 1784 

Jos. Raze 1785 

Thomas Joslin I78S 

Jesse i5rowu 17s'.) 

Jason Newell 17U2 

Ilolomon Potter 17'.';'. 

Nathaniel Jillson 171)4 

David Saylcs 17!15 

Benjamin Tingley I7'.i('> 

Johii Walcott.' M'.)>^ 

Aimer Ballon 17ft') 

Elisha Waterman isoi 

Levi Cooke , l.s()4 

Enoch Arnold 1810 

Jos. Wiiipiile (2d) 1811 

Absolom Ballon 1814 



Nathaniel Scott 1815 

Oliver Harris 1810 

Amos Whipple 1818 

Nathaniel Scott 1821 

Nathaniel Aldrich 182;) 

Palemon Walcott 1824 

Levi Cooke 1825 

Job Jenckes 1826 

Oliver Harris 1828 

Fenner Brown 182'.) 

Olney Mason ls;;o 

Natlian Jenckes 18:i2 

Dexter Ballon 18;];5 

James Weatherhead 18-55 

Nelson Jenckes 18:^7 

Abner Ilaskill 1838 

Columbia Tingley 18;]'.) 

Abner Ilaskill 1840 

Jos. Jacobs 1841 

Stukely S. Waterman 1842 

L(!onard Wakefield 1844 

Linus M. Harris 1845 

Abner Jillson .184() 

Jeraiil O. Willcox 1847 

John A. Cory 1848 

James 11. Case 1850 

Willard H. Whiting 1852 

Alfred Ilixon 18.53 

Arnold Carpenter 18.54 

Osnuuid S. EuUer 18.55 

John L. Clarke 18.50 

Daniel Wilkinson (2d) 18.57 

William O. Mason. 18.59 

I )aniel C. Mowry 1800 

J]atavia Matthewson 1802 

James W. Taft 18(i0 



24 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



SIXTK COUNCILMEN". 



William Walcott 174() 

Daniel Wilkinson 1747 

John Dexter 1748 

Samuel Bartlett 1749 

Jos. Brown 1751 

John Nicliolson 1752 

Obadiah Ballou 1754 

Gideon Tower 1755 

Elisha Newell 1758 

James Dexter 17(50 

Peter Darlint? 17G3 

Abner Ballou 1764 

Nathan Staples 1705 

Gideon Tower 1707 

Nathan Arnold. 17(38 

Ezekial Ballou 1771 

Nathaniel Shepherdson 1772 



Levi Ballou 1775 

Sam Whipple 1776 

Capt. Reuben Ballou 1779 

Daniel Jenckes 1782 

Gideon Sprague 1783 

Jos. Eaze 1784 

Christr. Whipple 1785 

Jotham Carpenter .1787 

Jesse Brown 1788 

Levi Arnold 1789 

Jason Newell 1791 

Holomon Potter 1792 

ThomaS' Joslin 1793 

Jesse Brown 1794 

Benjamin Tingley. . 1795 

Abner Ballou 1796 

Absolom Ballou 1799 



In 1799 there were seven Councilmen, the seventh being Elisha 
Waterman. 

In the year 1800 the number was reduced to five, and continued so 
to the present time. 



CHAPTER II. 

UP THE RIGHT BANK OF THE RIVER, FROM PROVIDENCE 
TO WOONSOCKET. 

The first settlers of Providence emigrated chiefly from 
tlie Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies. The Pawtucket 
river had, therefore, to be crossed. 

It was necessary that Roger Williams should cross in 
a canoe, for no artist would brave the ridicule of an 
astonished world by seating the founder of a State and of a 
great moral truth, upon an ox-cart in tlie middle of a shallow 
stream, surrounded by his household goods, his cattle and his 
family. But it was neither imperative nor reasonable that 
his companions in exile should have adopted the same mode 
of transportation, for there were five points upon the river 
where at its average heiglit it might easily have been forded. 

The first of these " wading-places " was at a point called 
the Ware*, now Central Falls. The second was at " Black- 
stone's Wading Place,"! "ow Lonsdale. The third was at 
" Pray's Wading Place," noAv Ashton. In the immediate 
vicinity of this jjlace was an estate, owned by Joshua 
Verin,^ who, it will be remembered, was expelled from the 
Colony under the conscience dogma of Roger Williams. The 
precise locality of this historic spot is the farm of the late 
Capt. Benoni Cook, near Lime Rock. The fourth " wading- 
place " was at Senetchonet Island,§ now Manville. The 
fifth was at Woonsocket. 

*K. I. Col. Roc, Vol. IV., page 451. 

tProv. Trans. Kcc, page 120. 

tFrom an original MS. iu possession of Wm. K. Cook, Esq. 

§Suiitbncia Council Rcc, Book 1, page 82. 

4 



26 HiSTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

I think before we cross the busy stream to which 
Woonsocket is so Largely indebted, we had better stop a 
moment and pay it our respects, for notwithstanding its 
kindness to us, it has been thus far a sadly neglected river. 
But ploughmen instead of poets, artisans rather than artists, 
have lived, loved and died upon its banks ; and during their 
lives, while diverting its foaming waters to useful ends, they 
have deprived the lovers of romantic scenery and good fish of 
much enjoyment. Not only have the verdant meadow and 
the jagged rock disappeared in some localities beneath its 
placid bosom, but the farm laborer is no longer compelled to 
stipulate that salmon shall not form his chief article of diet.* 
All the flights of fancy that its admirers have bestowed 
upon it, have been employed to prove that its course through 
the village, which now inscribes the initial letter "W" of 
the name of the town,! was at one time in striking contrast 
with that of some of the dwellers upon its banks. But 
the deep fissures and cavities worn by its waters in the blue, 
mica slate at the " Falls," are evidences that it has pursued 
its crooked ways for so many ages, that we may indulge 
in the reasonable hope that it will never return to its ancient 
bed. But although the river has not been sufficiently hon- 
ored in song to awaken a smile of approval or of j^ity from the 
poet, it has been honored with names to a remarkable degree.. 

It has been called the Seekonk, the Narragansett, the 
Patucket, the Neelmock, the Nipmuck, the Great, andi 
finally the Black stone. 

In ancient times it was occasionally called the Blackstone,, 
but not until the beginning of the present century did thisi 



*Aged people have informed me that hefore the construction of dams upon the river,, 
salmon were so plenty that, unless othenvise agi-eed upon, they formed the chief article inn 
jhe farmer's bill of iiire. 

fin relation to the meaning of the word Woonsocket, the reader must make his own selec- 
tion from the following : 1. Dr. Ballou gives it "Pond on the Hill." 2. S. C. Kcwman, from 
woone (thunder), suckete (mist). 3. I have been told that Dr. J. nammond, Trumbull, 
Pres. of the American Philological Association, gives it as "The place where the -jvater 
comes do'wu." 



HISTOEY OF AYOONSOCKET. 27 

name conic into nniveif^al use. It was so named in lionor of 
William Blackstone (or Blaxton), who was the first white 
settler npon its hanks, or, indeed, within the present limits 
of Rhode Island. 

The first grant of lands west of the river was obtained 
from the Indians "by God's mercifid assistance, without 
monies or payment." The bounds thereof and the con- 
sideration therefor were equally indefinite — its description 
being " the lands between the Pawtucket and the Pawtuxet 
rivers, up the streams without limit." 

But the grantee evidently deemed his title to be valid, as 
he afterward disposed of twelve-thirteenths of the same to 
his companions, for a consideration in money. 

Among these thirteen original proprietors of Providence 
was William Arnold. Many of the descendants of this man 
became famous, and one of them was infamous in the history 
of our country. 

Among his sons was Thomas Arnold. He is said to 
have emigrated from London to Richmond, Virginia ; from 
thence to Watertown, Mass. ; and from thence to Providence, 
where he arrived a short time after his father. He eventu- 
ally settled in the valley of the Moshassuck, near wdiere now 
stands the lower Quaker meeting-house, where he passed the 
remainder of his days. He died in September, 1674, aged 
fifty-eight years, and his estate was divided by the Town 
Council of Providence* between his widow and his five sur- 
viving children. Among these children Avere Richard, who 
was the eldest, and Elizabeth, Avho was the wife of Samuel 
Comstock. Richard Arnold and Samuel Comstock 
were the first settlers of Woonsocket. But before I can 
place them in peaceful possession of their estates, there is 
much that remains to be told. If I make the narrative suf- 
ficiently plain, you will be let into some strange secrets, and 
you will realize that " history is history ! " 

*rrov. Trans, lice, page 324. For descendants of this man, sec appendix. 



28 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The original proprietors of Providence did not at first 
attempt to divide their unlimited estate. It would have 
been like setting bounds to space. They simply located 
themselves as their immediate fancy or convenience dictated, 
erected their dwellings, planted their corn and reared their 
children — some selecting their meadows in the valley of the 
Pawtuxet and otbers upon the banks of the Pawtucket rivers 
and tlieir tributaries. After a time the settlers upon these 
streams became distinguished from each other, and known — 
the one as the " Proprietors of Pawtuxet," and the other as 
the " Proprietors of Providence." At last, when the popu- 
lation had perceptibly increased, each party began to clamor 
for a division of the territory, which in width was bounded 
by the rivers, and which in length was " without limit." 

To state the points of disagreement which existed between 
the (so called) Providence and Pawtuxet proprietors, is 
not only beyond my power, but it was beyond that of the 
disputants themselves. This is evident from the futile 
attempts of one party to limit infinity,* and of both parties 
to produce impossible lines. f In the midst of this dispute 
Richard Arnold and Samuel Comstock came to Woonsocket. 
Moved, probably, by the beauty and fertility of the region, 
and taking the " up stream without limit " clause in the 
deed from the Indians to mean something, as proprietors of 
Providence they proceeded to occujiy and improve the lands. 

The heat of the Pawtuxet controversy had gone out to the 
surrounding Colonies, and had been felt even in the courts of 
Europe, Every attempt to solve the problem had increased 
its intricacy. Every step taken in the labj^rinth had deep- 
ened its obscurity. At last an epistle — it was called a 



The iip-stream-witliout-lhnit clause means Sugar Loaf nill, Burit's Brow, Observation 
Kock, Absolute Swarcip, Oxford and Hipses Rock. But the cattle may go far enough north 
to return at night, and not trespass. — [Prov. Ti-ans. Kec, page 128.] 

A line ordered to be set seven miles west of Fox Hill, and from thence to be run "north 
to the Pawtitkct river. [Prov. Traus. Piec, page 100.] This was afterwards known as the 
" Seven mile line." It was ordered run June 4, 1600. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 29 

'•'' lovhuj epistle'''' — was Avritlcu by Roger Williams to tlie 
proprietors of Providence. It was a master-piece. It solved 
the problem by breaking' the slate, and dissolved the ob- 
scurity by destroying the labyrinth. 

In 1653,* the Providence proprietors had declared the act 
to be unjust Avhich divided the Pawtuxet men twenty miles, 
and defined the " np-stream-without-limit " point to be as 
far north from Hipses Rock, etc., as the cattle could go and 
return at night. The ''epistle" referred to not only in- 
dorsed the declaration of the Providence men, but it virtu- 
ally restricted the territory of the Providence Grand Purchase 
itself, by advising the purchase of lands which had hitherto 
been thought to be Avithin its limits. After much discus- 
sion, it was finally voted " to parley with the Indians for 
]Sriswosaket,t Wayunckeke and the region thereabouts." 

Many of the Indian deeds given in consequence of this 
action, may be found in " Staples's Annals of Providence." 
Among them is one from Waumsittou to Thomas Olney, 
sr., and others. | This transferred certain "grounds and 
meadows, lying and being on the west side of Seekonk or 
Pawtucket River, excepting a tract of land about four or 
five miles, which had been given leave to William, of Massa- 
chusetts, to dispose of, said land beginning at the old field 
of Wasqnadomisk," etc. 

In an instrument dated December 2, 1702, I find that the 
" four or five miles " referred to was originally " obtained in 
two purchases, but all being in one parcel.'''' I have had the 
good fortune, through the kindness of Ephraim Sayles, Esq., 
of Smithfield, who has the original document, to see a copy 
of the deed, which conveyed what I conceive to be the 
north-Avestern portion thereof. I think this document to be 

*Prov. Trans. Kcc, page 128. 

tit is thus spoiled in Iv. I. Col. Ecc, but Staples gives it Miswosakit, which ajrrce.s with 
tlic oriijinal. 
JStaplcs's Auuals of Prov., page 075. 



30 HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 

of sufficient importance to give in full, for thereby Richard 
Arnold and his friends were reduced for the time to the 
level of " squatter sovereigns," and upon it, as well as the 
" up-stream-without-limit " instrument so often referred to, 
rest the titles to the lands of Western Woonsocket : 

"Be it known imto all men by tiiese presents, that I, William Min- 
nion, of Punskepage, in ye Collony of ye Massachusetts Bay, have 
upon good consideration "moving me thereto, have freely given and 
)>assed over a tract of land unto Edward Imnan and John Mowry, of 
Providence, etc., lieing two thousand acres more or less, ye hounds 
of their land lying from Lo(iueesit northward. Ye tirst bound is a 
chestnut tree on ye South, marked on four sides at ye tirst Indian 
lield on Wessulkuitomisk Hill, running a mile due North, and then 
ui)on a line to Ummohbukkonit, taking in all ye meadows, and so to 
run to Nyssliacuck, and so to a champ of i)ines called ye Keys, and 
so to ye spring called Wessukkattomsuk, to ye chestnut tree above- 
mentioned, and so to Pawtucket River, and on ye end of the mill 
north to Pawtucket River. To have and to hold without any trouble 
or molestation by any Indians, and for the true performance hereof, 
I have sett my hand and seal ye 14th day of May, 1G06. 

In presence of ^ WILLIAM MINNION." 

Danl. Abbott, [ 
John Steere. ) 

The foregoing represented a belt of land about one mile 
in width, extending from the saw-mill before-mentioned to 
" Wionkhege." Loqueesit, spoken of as being south of said 
tract, was a large territory extending from where Manville 
now is, westerly beyond Lime Rock and southerly into what 
is now North Providence. 

Wessukkuttomsuk spring was what is now known as 
Crook Falls Brook, sometimes called Crooked River. 

The Keys w^as in the vicinity of Stillwater. 

Nysshacuck I have supposed to l)e Sayles Hill, because 
John Mowry, who was sometimes called " Nj-sshacuck 
John," lived there at one time. But as he removed from 
thence to the western part of the town, my su2)position has 
been disputed. The remains of him and his wife, however, 
repose on Sayles Hill. 

The mill north of Pawtucket river was the saw-mill of 
Richard Arnold, to which I shall have frequent occasion to 
refer. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. SI 

The otlier places mentioned in the deed I am unahlc to 
locate with any degree of accuracy. Neither can I give the 
precise bounds of the territoiy. It is sufficient for my 
purpose to say, that Western Woonsocket, Union Village, 
Slatersville and the region around Woonsocket Hill, was 
included within its limits. 

In the foregoing instrument but two grantees are alluded 
to, namely — Edward Inman and John Mo wry. But there 
was another proprietor, namely — Nathaniel Mowry, a brother 
of John. He was also the son-in-law of Edward Inman, 
having become the proprietor of Joanna in the same year 
that he did of the Wesquadomisk territory. He was at that 
time twenty-two years of age. It may be that he is men- 
tioned in the other Indian deed to which I have referred, 
but this important document has thus far escaped me. It is 
spoken of in ancient instruments as the " thousand acre pur- 
chase," and was probably bounded on the north and west by 
the tract which has been described — on the east by the 
Pawtucket river, and on the south by Louisquisset. 

Soon after the transactions above alluded to, Edward 
Inman disposed of one-sixth of his right to John Steere and 
one-sixth to Thomas Walling. There were now five pro- 
prietors, namely — Inman, holding four parts; Steere, one; 
Walling, one; John Mowry, six ; and Nathaniel, six. 

The first division of the hinds was made April 12, 1668. 
Each proprietor had for immediate use three hundred acres 
of upland and swamp and six acres of meadow. The re- 
mainder for a time remained undivided. 

The meadows were chosen as follows : Inman, the first 
choice ; John and Nathaniel, in partnership, the second ; 
Steere, the third ; Nathaniel Mowry, the foui'th ; Walling, 
the fifth ; and John Mowry, the sixth choice. 

It is unnecessary to give the details of further divisions. 
Transfers were made, from time to time, to the Blackmans, 



82 HISTORY OF WOOXSOCKET. 

the Bucldins, the Phillips, the Balkcolms, and others. I 
hasten down to the 26th of April, 1682. At this time the 
town of Providence appointed trustees — consisting of Arthur 
Fenner, William Hopkins, John Whipple, jr., Thomas Olney, 
jr., and our old friend, Richard Arnold — to set bounds to 
this extensive tract, and settle the differences which had 
arisen among the proprietors, who were then Edward Inman, 
John and Nathaniel Mowry and Stephen Arnold, the uncle 
of Richard. 

I will give the description of the territory in the language 
of the trustees, which the reader may dissect and translate at 
his leisure. It lieth in three parts, namely : 

"1. Two thousand three hundred and fifty acres lieth north and he 
west across the eastern end of said tract— part horderin^ upon Paw- 
tucket river, and part upon a small stream called Wasqiiadomsett. 

"2. One tluHisand acres at Wansaukit Hill, beginning at the south 
end of said Hill, and so ranging northward to the Pawtucket, the 
north end thereof bordering upon said river— the south-eastern corner 
being bounded with a snag tree, and from the said tree to range west 
to a low rock, which is a south-western corner bound; and from said 
rock to range north to a big rock standing in Pawtucket river — a 
white oak tree standing southward from said rock a little way from 
the brim of the river bank, being marked for a range tree, the" which 
said rock is a north-western corner-bound; and from said rock to fol- 
low the river unto a walnut tree marked upon the brim of the river 
banks, the which said walnut tree is a north-eastern corner bound of 
the said thousand acres of land. 

"3. One hundred and fifty acres Avhere James Blackmore's house 
once stood, the said land being four square, Blackmore's house in the 
middle of it." 

For some reason the tract of land upon which stood the 
saw-mill of Richard Arnold was not included in the territory 
granted to the Inman proprietors by the town. 

But, April 14, 1707, the town granted to Capt. Richard 
Arnold and Ensign Samuel Comstock the lands which they 
had already occupied for so long a time. 

Finally, after a controversy of upwards of forty years, the 
settlers of Woonsocket obtained a perfect title to their estates, 
and continued, without further trouble, to increase, multiply 
and replenish the earth. 

In 1731, the town of Smithfield was set off from Provi- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 33 

deuce. March ITtli of this year the first town meeting was 
held at the house of Valentine Whitman, and officers for the 
new town were elected. 

For one hnndred and forty years the citizens of Western 
Woonsocket participated in the annual elections of Smith- 
field. At last, after many struggles, old Smithfield was 
dismembered ; and March 8, 1871, a portion of its territory 
was amiexed to the new town of Woonsocket. 



Appendix to Chapter IL 



A LIST OF SMITHFIELD TOWN OFFICEES, 

FROM ITS INCORPORATION IN 1731 TO ITS DIVISION IN 1871. 
TOWN CLERKS. 

Richard Sayles 1731 Samuel Mann 1815 

.Joseph Arnold 173:^ Thomas Mann 1817 

Daniel Jenckes 1733 George L. Barnes 1840 

.Joseph A mold 1742 Orin \Vright 1843 

Thomas Sayles 1745 George L. Barnes .1844 

Josei)h Savles 1754 Orin' Wright 1845 

.John Sayles 175G Stafford Mann 184U 

Daniel Mowry, jr 17(K) Samuel GUirk, jr 1855 

Daniel Mowry (4th) 1780 

TOWN TREASURERS. 

John Sayles 1731 Isaac Wilkinson 1817 

Israel Wilkinson 1751 Lewis Dexter 1840 

Stephen Whipple 1755 Stafford Mann 1843 

('apt. Jolm Angell 175(i Samnel Clark 1844 

Steplien AVhipi»le 17t)l Stalford ]Mann 1845 

William Huffum 1770 Itolicrl Harris 1850 

Ainold Fain 177'-:! ilenry Gooding 1855 

Stephen lirayton 178(1 'J'homas ]\[oies" 1857 

liobert Ilarris 17i)2 Keuel F. Smith 1858 

5 



u 



HIS TORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



TOWN SERGEANTS. 



Uriah Mowry 

Benjamin Pain 

Thomas Steere, jr 

John Smith, jr 

Richard Smith 

David Willvinson 

Jos. Mowry (od) 

Elisha Sayles 

Ezekial Cbmstock 

John Angell 

Ilezekiali Ilerringdeen 

Tliomas Savles 

William Pullen 

Elisha Dillingham 

William Pullen 

Elisha Dillingham 

Jona Comstock 

Eli Read 



. 1731 David Aldrich 1778 

.17.32 Job Mowry 1780 

. 1734 David ISIowry 1799 

.1736 is^athaniel Mowry (4th) 1800 

.1737 Stephen Thornton 1801 

. 1738 George Chace 1802 

.1747 Benjamin Sheldon 1804 

. 1753 Isaac Wilkinson 180.5 

.1758 Amasa Mowry, son of John. 1810 

.1760 Mark Aldrich 1822 

. 1701 Eorenzo T. Brown 1843 

.1702 Mark Aldrich 1844 

1705 David S. AVilkinson 1845 

.1769 Squire H. Rogers 1855 

. 1770 Stephen A. Aldrich 1856 

.1772 Renselaer L, Mowry 1861 

. 1775 Henry S. Cook 1869 

.1777 



PRESIDENTS OF COUNCILS. 



John Arnold 1731 

Major William Smith 1733 

Thomas Steere 1734 

Major William Smith 1735 

Thomas Sayles — 1737 

Thomas Steere 1739 

Jos. Smith 1747 

Lieut. Thomas Arnold 1748 

Thomas Steere 1750 

John Sayles 1773 

Ezekiel Comstock 1774 

Henry Jenckes 1777 

Capt." Sylvanus Sayles 1779 

(Jaleb Aldrich ' 1780 

Daniel Mowrv, jr 1785 

William Waterman 1789 

Joseph Farnum 1790 

George Comstock 1792 

Capt. Sylvanus Sayles 1794 

Samuel Clark 1797 

Duty Winsor 1800 

Johii Jenckes 1801 

Thomas Man 1802 

Samuel Hill 1806 



Thomas Man 1809 

Benjamin Hall 1814 

Thomas Buffum 1815 

Daniel Angell 1816 

Reid^en Mowry 1818 

Daniel Angell 1822 

Thomas Buffum 1823 

David Wilkinson 1824 

Samuel B. Harris 1825 

Morton Mowry 1827 

Lewis Dexter 1830 

Sessions Mowry 1834 

Morton Mowry 1834 

Samuel Clark 1841 

Arnold Speare 1842 

Lewis Dexter 1844 

Thomas Bulf um 1845 

Robert Harris 1851 

Richard Mowry 18.54 

Daniel IST. Paiiie 18.55 

Lewis Dexter 1856 

Cliarles Moies 1861 

George Johnson 1868 



Arlon Mowry 1869 

SECOND COUNCILMEN. 

Jos. Mowry 1731 Thomas Angell 1816 

Joseph Arnold 1735 David Wilkinson 1818 

Jol) Whipple 1736 Morton Mowry 1824 

William Arnold 1737 Nathaniel Mowry 1827 

Thomas Shippy 1739 Sessions Mowry 1830 

Jeremiah Mowry 1747 Elisha Smith 1831 

Thomas Owen 1848 Simon Aldrich 1833 

John Aldrich 17.50 Stephen Sheldon 1834 

Ezekiel Angell. . . : 1761 Samuel Clark 1838 

John Sayles 1708 Dexter Aldrich 1841 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



(Mol) Aldricli ...1774 

Job Aldricli 1775 

Daniel Smith 1777 

Jolm Man ..1779 

8tei>luMi Wliipple 1782 

.Tes.s(> JiMickes 1783 

Pamiiel Clark 17'.U 

Duty AViiisor 1797 

-h^dwai'd Medbuvv 17'.H» 

Joliii Man ". 1801 

Seth Mowry 1802 

Elislia Steere 1807 

Daniel Ano-ell 1815 



Arnold Sjieare isi:} 

John roster 1844 

Daniel Sayles 1845 

Bradford 'Bnllock 184() 

Daniel Pierce 1847 

Robert Harris 1840 

Israel Sayles 1851 

Thomas Latham 1852 

Henry Stone 1854 

John "J. Carpenter 1855 

Charles Moies .1850 

Arlon Mowrv 1801 

Edward A. Brown 18G0 



THIRD council:men. 



Thomas Steere 1731 

John Mowry 1732 

Joseph Arnold 1733 

James Aldrich 1735 

David Comstock 1736 

John Brown 1737 

Robert Staples 1747 

John Aldrich 1748 

Dr. John Jenckes 1750 

"William Jenckes 1701 

Thomas Laphani 1700 

Caleb Aldrich 1772 

Job Aldrich 1774 

Al)raham Matthewson 1775 

John Man 1777 

Stephen Arnold 1770 

Stephen Whipple 1780 

Edward Thompson 1782 

Stephen "Whipple 1785 

James Smith 1786 



David Tncker 1815 

Arnold Jenckes 1810 

Jeremiah Smith, jr is 1 7 

Stephen Steere 1818 

Morton Mowry 1822 

Charles Appleby 1824 

Nathaniel Mowry 1826 

Jeremiah "Whipple .1827 

David Jjapham 1830 

Richard S. Scott 1831 

Job S. Mann 1834 

Cyrns Arnold 1836 

Asahel Angell 1838 

Dexter Aldrich 1840 

Barney Dodge 1841 

Alvin Jenckes 1842 

Elisha Smith 1843 

Gideon ]\Iowry 1844 

David Willmr 1845 

Benjamin Harris 1847 



James Appleby 1789 Robert Harris 1848 



Job Aldrich 1794 

Duty Winsor 1796 

John Man 1797 

Seth Mowrv 1801 

Ahab JNIowrv 1802 

Richard Buffum 1803 

Stephen Bnlium 1804 

Samuel Hill, jr 1805 

Enos Mowrv 1806 

Nathan Aldrich 1800 



Richard Mowry 1 S4i) 

Israel Sayles. . ' 1850 

John Knight 1851 

Richard Smith 1852 

James Phetteplace 1854 

Harris M. Irons 18.56 

John J. Carpenter 1859 

William ]Mowry 1861 

Baylies Bourne 18(58 

AVilliam P. Steere 1869 

Edward G. Chace 1870 



Benjamin Hall 1811 

James Appleby 1814 

FOURTH COUNCIOIEN. 

Samuel Aldrich 1731 Jeremiah Smith, jr 1816 

Elisha Smith 1732 Reuben Mowry 1S17 

Thomas Ship])y 1733 William Aldrich 18is 

Job AVhi])ple 1735 George (^hace 1821 

John Brown 1736 Arnold Speare 1822 

"J'homas Steere 1737 Jeremiah Whipple 1824 

John Dexter 1739 Barney Dodge 1827 



36 



HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Thomas Owen 1747 

John Jeiiekes 1748 

C'ajtt. Daniel Mowry 1750 

John Sayles I7r)5 

Capt. Daniel Mowry 1756 

Caleb Aldricli ' 1768 

Stephen Arnold 1772 

Abraham Matthewson 1774 

Henry Jenckes 1775 

Stephen lirayton 1777 

Edward Thoinpson 1779 

Arnold Pain 1782 

Jolm Angell 1785 

Philip Mowry, jr 1786 

Arnold Pain 1789 

Thomas Aldricli 1794 

Daniel Smith, jr 1796 

Ezeldel Comstoek 1797 

John Jenckes 1799 

Aliab Mowry 1801 

Richard P,uffnm 1802 

Samuel Hill, jr 1803 

Enos Mowry 1805 

Job Arnold 1806 

Benjamin Hall 1809 

David Harris 1811 

Daniel Angell 1814 

Marcus Arnold 1815 



Elisha Smith 1830 

Wilder Holbrook 1831 

Stephen Sheldon 1833 

Andrew Weatherhead 1834 

Dexter Aldrich 1835 

Tyler Mowry 1836 

Samuel Clark 1837 

Stephen Steere 1838 

Stei)hen Sheldon 1839 

Barney Dodge 1840 

Alvin "Jenckes 1841 

John Poster 1842 

Daniel Sayles, jr 1843 

Lyman Cook 1844 

James Phetteplace 1845 

John Fenner .1847 

Eichard Mowry 1848 

Israel Sayles . .' 1849 

John Knight 1850 

Thomas Capham 1851 

Albert Cook 1852 

John B. Tallman 1854 

Harris M. Irons 1855 

Daniel Mowry 1856 

George Johnson 1857 

George M. Appleby L'^iU 

William Duane Aldricli 18()2 

George Johnson 1869 



FIFTH COUIs'CILMEN. 



John Mowry 1731 

Thomas Shippy 1732 

James Aldricli 1733 

Thomas Smith, jr 1734 

David Comstoek 1735 

Lieut. Jos. Smith 1736 

Benjamin Pain 1737 

Jonathan Arnold 1739 

Capt. Daniel Mowry 1747 

Baulston Bray ton 1750 

David Comstoek 1754 

Stephen Arnold 1768 

Preserved Harris 1772 

Henry Jenckes 1774 

Jonathan Gully 1775 

Jonathan Comstoek 1777 

Sylvanus Sayles 1778 

AVilliam Waterman 1779 

Arnold Pain 1780 

Abraham Matthewson 1782 

John Angell 1783 

James Smith 1785 

John Man, jr 1786 

Elisha Olney 1794 

John Man, jr 1796 

Israel Taft 1797 



Stephen Buft'um 1814 

Thomas Angell 1815 

Reuben Mowry 1816 

David Wilkinson 1817 

Winsor Aldrich 1818 

George Chace 1822 

Cyrus Arnold 1823 

Abraham Winsor 1824 

Barney Dodge 1826 

Lewis Dexter 1827 

Richard S. Scott 1830 

Elisha Olney, jr 1831 

Asa W. Ballon 1833 

Waterman F. Brown 1834 

Asaliel Phetteplace 1835 

Dexter Aldrich 1838 

Alvin Jenckes 1840 

Stephen Smith (2nd) 1841 

James T. Harkness 1842 

Ahaz Mowry, jr 1S43 

Christopher" AV. Kelly .1844 

Bradford Bullock 1845 

Albert Cook 1846 

Isaac Wilkinson 1847 

Israel Sayles 1848 

John Knight 18-19 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



oi 



John Pain 1700 Thomas Latham 1850 



Kicliard Uuffum 1801 

Daniel AVinsor l;502 

Enos Mowrv 180:5 

Job Arnold' 1805 

Thomas ]5nffuin 180() 

Nathan Aldrich 1807 

David Harris 1800 

James Appleby 1811 



Samuel S. Mallory 1851 

John J. Carpenter 1852 

Daniel Mowry 1854 

William Patt 185(3 

Arlon Mowry 1859 

(xeorj^e Johnson 1861 

Edward A. Brown 18(58 

Baylies Bourne 18G9 



SIXTH COUNCILMEN. 

Benjamin Smith 1731 Arnold Jenckes 1815 

Thomas Sayles 1832 David Wilkinson ISIO 

John Dexter 1833 Stephen Steere 1817 

John Brown 1835 None 1818 

Benjamin Pain 1830 Morton Mowry 1819 

Jolni Dexter 1737 Jeremiah Whipple 1822 



William Jenckes 1730 

John Aldrich 1747 

Benjamin Arnold 1748 

Preserved Harris 1750 

Stephen Whipple 1772 

Job Aldrich 1773 

Jonathan Gully 1774 

Jeremiah Harris 1775 

Jolin Man 1776 

Stephen Arnold 1777 

Arnold Pain 1770 

Job Aldrich 1780 

Abraham Matthewson 1781 

John Angell 1782 

James Smith 1783 

Philip Mowry 1785 

Kobert Latham 1780 

Emor Smitli 1700 

Joseph Mowry 1702 

Phihp Mowry 1704 

Ezekial Comstock 1706 

Seth Mowry 1707 

Daniel Winsor 1801 

None 1802 

Elijah Derry 1803 

Thomas Api)leby 1804 

Tliomas Butt'um 1805 

Benjamin Hall 180(! 



Barney Dodge 1824 

Lewis Dexter 1826 

Sessions Mowry 1827 

Wilder Holbrobk 1830 

Daniel G. Harris 1831 

None 1832 

Jol) S. Mann 1833 

John Jenckes 1834 

Samuel Clark 1835 

Smith R. MoAvry 1836 

Barney Dodge 1838 

Stephen Smith (2d) 1840 

Pelatiah Metcalf 1841 

Gideon Mowry 1842 

Avery Gilman 1843 

Lyman Wilmarth 1844 

Johnson G. Horton 1845 

Horace Trowbridge 1846 

Israel Sayles 1847 

John Knight 1848 

Thomas Latham 1849 

Alfred Allen 1850 

Alden Coe 1851 

John Knight 1852 

Lewis Aldrich 1854 

William Patt 1855 

Charles Moies 1856 

William P. Steere 1850 



Thomas Ai)plel)y 1800 Harvy S. Bartlett 1861 

Daniel Angell 181 1 William P. Steere 1863 

None 1814 Oscar A. Tobey 1SG9 

SEVENTH COUNCILMEX. 

Up to 1700 the Council consisted of but six mem1)ers. This year 
the seventh was added. 

Elisha Olney 1700 Asahel Angell 1835 

Aliab Mowiv 1800 Uriaii Benedict 1838 

Eliiah Arnold 1801 ]}urrill Aldrich 1839 

None 1802 Pehitiah Metcalf 1840 



38 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Job Arnold 1803 

William Aldricli 1804 

Benjamin Hall 1805 

Dav'id Harris 180() 

Daniel An^-ell 1800 

Stephen Buff um 1811 

Xone 1814 

Jeremiah Smith 1815 

Stephen Steere 1810 

William Aldrich 1817 

None 1818 

Daniel AVinsor 1819 

Arnold Speare. 1820 

Abraham Winsor 1822 

Samuel B. Harris 1824 

Lewis Dexter 1825 

Sessions Mowry 1820 

David Lapham 1827 

Elisha Olney, jr I8o0 

George Chace 1831 

J>'one 1832 

AndreAV Waterman 1833 

Edwin Harris 1834 

In 1843, eleven Councilmen were 

8th. Edward Evans. 1 

9th. Robert Harris, 



John Poster 1841 

Lyman Cook 1842 

]3enjamin Harris 1842 

Ansel Ilolman 1844 

AVilliam M. Farnum 1845 

Alljert Cook 1847 

Asa Wiusor 1848 

Israel B. Purinton 1840 

William Smith 1850 

George B. Aldrich 1851 

Rol )ert Harris 1852 

Henry Gooding 1854 

James H. Chabe 1855 

Harden Knight 1850 

Daniel Mowry 1858 

William Mowrv 1859 

John ]Sr. Spaulding 1861 

Jolm J. Carpenter 1803 

Benjamin Comstock 18(34 

Baylies Bourne 1806 

Oscar A. Tobey 1868 

William H. Aldrich 1869 

elected. 

10th. J'jradford Bullock. 
11th. William M. Parnum. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE FIRST SETTLEllS OF WOONSOGKET. 

When the first settlement of Woonsocket was made, I 
have been unable to ascertain. The reader will remember 
that I alluded to a' saw-mill which existed in these parts 
in 16GG. As its builder, Richard Arnold, was at that 
time but twenty-four years of age, it is fair to infer 
that it was erected about that time, and that then was 
" the beginning." The first settlers, as I have said before, 
were Richard Arnold and Samuel Comstock — the latter 
" pitching his tent " a little west of the Union Village, and 
the former locating himself at the river. During their lives 
they held the lands in common, and no lines were drawn 
between their estates until many years after their death. 
This was done by their heirs, March 26, 1731. 

When this act was consummated, the Arnold famil}- 
became proprietors of a greater portion of the lands in the 
vicinity of the " Falls," and which is now the most valuable 
part of the town. It therefore devolves upon me to 
devote a brief space to Richard Arnold, from whom the 
titles to our estates are derived. 

Richard Arnold was a man of superior abilities, and hon- 
ored with the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. 
During the greater portion of his life he held ofllcial posi- 
tions, being either a member of the General Assembly or 
Assistant-Governor of the Colony. And when our Colony 
was reduced to a single county, luider the Adininistralion 
of Sir Edmond Andros, a seat Avas given him in his Council, 



40 HISTORY OF WOOKSOCKET. 

at Boston. Not only did he take an active part in the 
affairs of government, but he was repeatedly chosen to act 
with committees in the adjustment of boundary disputes 
with the neighboring colonies, and to settle differences that 
arose, from time to time, among his fellow-townsmen. It 
was probably during some of his official excursions to the 
northern part of the Colony that he was moved by the 
beauty and fertility of the region, and selected it as a fitting 
place for a settlement. And, taking the up-stream-without- 
limit clause in the deed from the Indians to mean some- 
thing, as one of the proprietors of Providence he proceeded 
to make improvements upon the territory without going- 
through with the formality of purchasing it over again. 

According to an ancient document which I have seen, 
Richard Arnold was married to an " angel woman." The 
contemplation of the fruits of this union, miraculous not 
only in numbers but often in conception, I am led to believe 
that the spelling of the v/ord "angel" Avith a small "a" 
was intentional. He died April 22, 1710, aged sixty-eight 
years, leaving a widow (Sarah) and four children, namely — 
Richard, John, Thomas and Mary. The following docu- 
ment will show the extent of his estate and the manner of 
its division : 

The Will of Bichard Arnold. 

"I, Richard Arnold, of Providence, in the Collonyof Rhode Ishind, 
etc., being aged and something infirm of body, but sound and perfect 
memory, thanks be to God; but considering the uncertainty of this 
life, and not knowing how soon it may please God to take nie out of 
tliis world, I am wilhng to do something for the setling of that small 
estate I have to dispose of; and do therefore make and appoynt this 
my last will and testament as f olloweth : 

"And, first, I give to Sarah, my wife, for the terme of her natural 
life, my two lots m the town, with the orchard and house upon them, 
and also mv meadow at the West River, which I bought of Edward 

Manton, and after my said wife's decease to — , the lots and said 

meadow unto my three sons— Richard, John and Thomas Arnold— 
tlieir lieirs and assigns forever. 

" I also give to my wife two cows and one-third part of my house- 
hold goods here in the towne, and all the estate that was hers before 
1 married with her. 



HISTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 41 

" Item. I fjive to my aforesaid son, Eichurd Arnold, all the land 
within his tence Avhere ho now dwelleth at Wansoket.'on 3'e east 
side ye Little River, to be for him, his lieirs or assij^ns for ever. 

"Item. I give to my son, Jolm Arnold, all the land within his fence 
and wliere he now dwelletli, with my interest and part of ye saw- 
mills at ye Falls, as also of meadow more, being within 

fence on" ye east side of ye Little River, with the i)iece of meadow 
called the Island, joining on ye west side ye Little River, bonnded on 
ye west with the ditch and on ye south with the drain, to l)e to the 
said John Arnold, his heirs or'assigns forever; and all the rest of 
lands adjoining, belonging to me at Woonsocket, with my farme 
granted by ye towne, being on ye west side ye l)ranch of Pa'wtncket 
river, I give to my said two sons, Richard and John Arnold, to be 
equally divided between them and theirs forever. 

"Item. I give to my son, Thomas Arnold, all my land adjoining at 
the place where he now dwelleth, or that lieth on both sides the 
highway that leads from the towne to Lo(iuasqussuck, with the 
Iiouse and other buildings on said farme. That part of said farme 
being on the north-east'side said highway is bounded on ye south- 
west with said highway, on ye norwest, jiart with the land Ijelonging 
to Edward Smith and" his brother, and partly with land laid out to 
William AVhipple, and on ye north bounded with the land of John 
Dexter, and on the south-east with Eliezer Arnold; and that on the 
south-west side of said highway, bounded on the south-east witli tlie 
land of said Eliezer Arnold, and on the south-west with land belong- 
ing to Thomas Olne}', and on the norwest, partly with land belonging 
to John Angell and partly with common or undivided land, n'eere 

inito land laid out formerly to Olney. The said land I give to 

my said son, Thomas Arnold, his heirs and assigns forever, he paying 
the several sums as foUoweth, that is: To pay fifteen pounds, in 
money, to his brother Richard, and ten pounds "to his brother John, 
and twenty-five pomids to his sister, Mary Steere. 

"Item. I give to Thomas Steere that piece of land belonging to me 
which lieth at ye bent of ye river below ye bridge, near Thomas 
Steere, his meadow. And my will is that Thomas Steere shall have 
half the mills at jSTassatuckett, and the other half of said mills, with 
the farme now in the hands of Elisha Smith— the elfects of said mill 
and farme to 1)e to my executors hereafter named. And my right in 
common or undivided lands, with all other lands belonging to me not 
before specified, I give to be equally divided to my said executors. 

"And my will is that To])y, my negro servant, serve with my son 
Thomas until he comes to the age of twenty-five years, which will be 
in February, 171(i or 1717, and that my saitl son to then set him free, 
and give him two suits of apparill, a good narrow axe, a broad hoc, 
and one sithe with tackling, fit for mowing, and twenty shillings in 
money. 

"And I do make my three sons — Richard, Jolm and Thomas 
Arnold— joynt executors of this my last will and testament. In 
witness hereof, I hereunto set mv hand and seal this eight dav of 
June, 1708. ' RJCIIARD AR^'ULD:" 

By the foregoing, it appears that Ricliard divicU^d liis 

Woonsocket estate between liis two sons, liiehard and 

John — that of the former beginning at the Union ViUage 

6 



42' HISTOEY OF WOOKSOCKET. 

and extending westward, and that of the latter beginning 
at the same point and coming eastward to the river, includ- 
ing what is now the Globe Village and the surrounding 
estates. 

The dwelling-house of his son Richard was where Mr. 
Albert Mowry now resides. A portion of this building is 
said to have been erected in 1690. If so, it is probably the 
oldest house in these parts. 

The house in which John lived during the life-time of his 
father has long since been demolished. It was a rude cabin, 
the stone chimney and the steps to the attic being upon the 
outside thereof — the one being upon the end next to the 
l)rook and the other upon the opposite end. In the year 
1712 John erected his new dwelling-house (in the vicinity 
of the old one), which is still standing in a good state of 
preservation. It stands on Providence street, and is owned 
and occupied* at the present time by A. C. Munroe, Esq. 
In the last generation it was the farm-house of Ephraim 
Coe. 

Although I shall step out of the present limits of Woon- 
socket in so doing, still I deem it necessary to give the sub- 
divisions of the estate of Richard Arnold II. But I will 
make my narrative as brief as possible. 

This man married Mar}^ Woodward, who presented him 
with six boys, namely — Richard, Woodward, Joseph, 
Thomas, Edmund and Josias. Before his death he gave 
to each of these boys a farm. He died intestate, June, 
1745. 

The farm which he gave to his son Richard still remains 
in the possession of the family. It was given May 11, 1731, 
and comprised sixty acres, bounded on one side by the 
homestead farm, and on another by the " thousand acre " 
purchase of Edward Inman, et ah. The young landholder 
is spoken of as a very ingenious man ; and, June 6, 1733, 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 43 

during the minority of his children, he left Iiis wife ;ind 
family and went to Philadelphia, in pursuit of occupation 
more congenial to his taste. He was never afterwards lieard 
from. The farm eventually became the property of his son, 
Stephen Arnold, a highly respectable citizen of these parts, 
in the last century. It is now owned and occupied by 
Abraham Arnold, the grandson of Stephen and brother to 
our townsman, Hon. Cyrus Arnold. 

September 17, 1731, Richard gave to his son. Woodward 
Arnold, a farm lying within the "thousand acre purchase," 
on the north-west part of Woonsocket Hill. Six years after- 
ward Woodward sold his inheritance to Nathan Staples, of 
Mendon, and removed to Massachusetts. The farm has 
been known as the " Nathan Staples's Place " for upward 
of a century. 

Thomas Arnold inherited the homestead farm. It passed 
to his son, Peleg Arnold. During the latter part of the last 
century, the house was one of the taverns for which Woon- 
socket has been so famous. 

Edmund Arnold was presented, December 29, 1735, with 
the farm which is now the property of Arnold Wakefield, 
Esq. 

Josiah Arnold was given, February 22, 1736, and again 
October 15, 1737, an estate near Woonsocket Hill. The 
area of the two estates was one hundred and forty-four 
acres. Josiah was the father of Dr. Jonathan Arnold, of 
Revolutionary fame, and the grandfather of Lemuel Hast- 
ings Arnold, one of the Governors of our State. 

Joseph Arnold was given an estate, October 20, 1731, but 
he resided upon it but a short season, if he did at all.* His 
residence was where Mrs. Eliza Osborne now lives. This 
he purchased of William, the son of Hezediah Comstock, 

*Tlie fiinn wliich Joscpli received from liis father was aftenvards occupied by his son?, 
Jacob and Dr. William Arnold. I derive this from Joseph's will. A portion of the estate 
is now owned by Arnold Wakefield. 



44 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

in the year 1744, and became an innkeeper. Of Joseph 
Arnold I shall have more to say in another chapter, 

I have said that Richard Arnold was the first settler of 
Woonsocket, and in this I am supported by documentary 
evidence, which I have given to the reader. But the voice of 
tradition is against me, and, as paradoxical as the statement 
may be, the records are also against me. I will endeavor 
to explain myself. That he was the first proprietor of the 
lands and the improvements thereon, is beyond dispute. 
That he ever permanently resided here, may be doubted. 
Dr. Seth Arnold is firm in the conviction that he did live 
here, and locates his residence near where now stands the 
slaughter-house of William H. Andrews, on the Globe side 
of the river. His evidence is that of Rachel Arnold, the 
widow of Stephen Arnold, who at the beginning of the 
present century — she then being a very aged lady — pointed 
out the spot to him. Mr. Thomas A. Paine is as decided in 
an opposite opinion, and saj^s that it has been, for upwards 
of a century, a tradition in his family that John Arnold, 
the son of Richard, was the first settler of Woonsocket. I 
think that these two apparently opposite opinions may be 
satisfactorily reconciled. 

In his younger days Richard Arnold probably lived in the 
valley of the Moshassuck. While living there, he erected 
his eaw-mill amid the solitudes of these parts. It was not 
an unusual thing in those days for men to cultivate farms 
even which were many miles away from their places of 
residence. I recall at this moment a tradition of Lime 
Rock, which speaks of a Pray family, who owned and 
cultivated lands in that vicinity and lived at Providence. 
Indeed, in those times of Indian troubles, it would liave 
been almost criminal for one to bring his wife and children 
away from a place of comparative safety. But although not 
living here, it was imperatively necessary that a temporary 
shelter should be built. And probably the temporary shel- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 45 

tcr of Ricliard Arnold was constructed at the place pointed 
out by Dr. Arnold. That Richard Arnold lived at the 
Providence settlement when his will was written, is quite 
evident to the most careless reader. I shall, therefore, yield 
to the opinion of Mr. Paine, and give to his great, great 
grandfather, John Arnold, the honor of having been the 
first settler of Woonsocket. 

Of John Arnold I have been able to learn but little. If 
we judge of him from documents ot his time, which allude 
to his father as "Captain" Richard Arnold, to his son as 
William Arnold, " of Smithfield, Esq.," and to himself as 
simply John Arnold, "yeoman," we may regard him as simply 
a connecting link between his ancestors and his descendants. 
It will, therefore, be pleasant to remain in his company, 
because we know so little of him. And yet. from positions 
which he held among his fellow-countrymen, and from 
works which he has left behind him, he seems to have been 
a man of more than ordinary parts. 

He was one of the organizers of the Society of Friends in 
Northern Rhode Island, and built their first meeting-house 
at this place. He was one, of the committee who run our 
northern boundary line in 1718, and when Smithfield be- 
came a town, in 1731, he was the first President of the 
Council. He was born in 1671. Tradition fixes the time 
of his coming to take up his permanent abode upon his 
father's lands at this place in 1695, and the records show 
that this was about the time of his marriage. 

The maiden name of his first wife was Mary Mowry, a 
daughter of Nathaniel Mowry, to whom I have introduced 
you in a previous chapter. She presented him with ten 
children, namely — William, John, Israel, Daniel, Anthony, 
Seth, Anne, Marcy, Susanna and Abagail. Mary died 
January 27, 1742. He remained a widower but a short 
time, and although arrived at the mature age of three score 



46 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

years and eleven, lie again put on the yoke of matrimony. 
The name of his second wife was Hannah Hayward. There 
were no fruits to this union. He died October 27, 1756, in 
the eighty-sixth year of his age. His remains now repose 
in the burial-ground on the Vose farm at the Globe Village. 
His will was written May 5, 1753. The following is the 

Abstract of Will of Jolm Arnold. 

" To his wife, Hannah, one-half of the incomes and profits of the 
homestead farm. Also, one-half of the meadow and upland at the 
Little Cedar Swamp. 

"To his son, "William, thirty pounds of current money. 

"To his three sons, Daniel, Anthony and Israel, five i)ounds each. 

"To his three daughters, Mary La])ham, Abagail Bartlett and 
Susanna Melavory, one hundred ])ounds each. 

" To his grandson, Moses Arnold, five pounds. 

" To his grandson, ^Jfoah Arnold, forty pounds. 

"To his grandson, David Arnold, ten pounds. 

" To his grandson, Arnold Paine, the remaining half of the home- 
stead, and "of the meadow and upland at Little Cedar Swam]). Also, 
the reversion of the other half of same at the death of his wife. 
Also, one-half of farm stock. Also, two hundred pounds current 
money. 

"To his grandson, Nicholas Lapham, his French gun. 

"To his son, Seth, his part of the saw-mill and appurtances. 

"The remainder of his estate to be equally divided among his eight 
remaining children." 

Before his death John Arnold presented or sold the 
larger part of his real estate to his sons — William, John, 
Israel, Daniel, Anthony and Seth. The reader must par- 
don me if, in giving the sub-divisions of his estate, I get 
ahead of my story at times. The excuse which I have to 
offer is that it would have been much easier for me to tell 
my story chronologically, and I have chosen another course 
for the reader's convenience, instead of mine. I will now 
give the estate of William Arnold. 

November 9, 1727, his father presented him with an 
estate, which was the northern portion of what is known in 
these days as "The Old Maids' Farm." March 17, 1729, 
William purchased of his father a farm, which was after- 
wards a portion of the Lapham Jeffyrs estate. On this 
William erected his new house, which is now standing* in 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 4T 

tlu) rear of the old Globe Bank Building, and owned by 
Dutee Mowry, Esq. This ancient edifice has been much 
altered since it was first built. In the beginning it was 
adorned with a hip roof. Its chimney was very large, and 
its windows consisted of small diamond- shaped panes of 
glass, set in lead. The reader will notice that it is spoken 
of as the " new house." The old house stood a little way 
south-east of the new building. It was a small one-story 
house, and was afterwards used as a store. It has long 
since been demolished. July 26, 1744, William was pre- 
sented by his father Avith another estate between the two 
last-mentioned, and the three thus became one continuous 
estate. The lands which William possessed on the Cum- 
berland side of the river have been previously described. 
April 19, 1755, he sold the whole of his real estate on 
both sides of the river to his son Elisha. Elisha, at the 
time, was the proprietor of and the resident on an estate 
which was situated " west of Woonsocket Hill." He after- 
ward removed to his new purchase, leaving his former 
home in charge of his son, Rufus, to whose children, Asa 
and Israel, the property eventually descended. Upon -the 
death of Elisha, his Woonsocket estates passed into the 
hands of his son Ezekiel. Ezekiel lived at the " Old 
Maids' Farm." The house thereon was built for him by 
his father ; and his sister Mary, who was never married, 
lived at the old homestead previously described. Ezekiel 
Arnold married Mary C apron, who presented him with four 
children, namely — Joel, Anne, Abagail and Lydia. Joel 
died young. Anne married Lapham Jeffyrs ; Abagail and 
Lydia were the "old maids." After a time, by a decree of 
the Court, the estate was divided — Lapham Jeffrys retain- 
ing the Cumberland portion (which he afterward disposed 
of to I). D. Buffum), and that part of the Smithfield portion 
now owned by Dr. Ariel Ballon, tlio Lii)2)itt Woolen Com- 
pany, and many others in the vicinity of Constitution Ilill. 



48 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The estate of Lydia and Abagail remained undivided until 
their death. 

Everything in and around the premises of the "old maids" 
was managed by them with extraordinary skill, except the 
productions of the farm and the farm itself. The scrupulous 
neatness of their kitchen and the excellence of their dishes 
were remarkable. They made the best butter, raised tlie 
fattest poultry and the sleekest cattle, and could point with 
pride to the most fertile fields in the neighborhood. But in 
the more subtle arts of trade they were deficient, and were 
often the victims of misplaced confidence. It was, there- 
fore, a sensible conclusion at which they arrived when they 
decided that it would be a good thing to have a man in 
the house. This man they obtained in the i^erson of their 
cousin, Elisha Capron. The management of Elisha was 
prudent and satisfactory, and Abagail made her will in his 
favor. Abagail, however, outlived her legatee, and upon 
her decease the proceeds from the sale of the estate were 
divided among his children. The property is now chiefly 
owned by the Fairmount Farm Company and the Enterprise 
Company. 

September 27, 1866, the f)roperty of the "old maids" was 
purchased by the former, consisting of the following parties : 
J. P. and J. G. Ray, two parts; Gilbert Darling, Reuben 
G. Randall, E. G. Sweat and R. P. Smith — one part each. 
The farm is managed by Gilbert Darling. The Treasurer 
is R. P. Smith. 

In 1870 the Enterprise Company was organized, and a 
mill built upon the estate. The establishment is devoted 
to the manufacture of lastings, serges, etc., and produces 
annually — say 375,000 yards. The following are the 
officers of the establishment : President — J. D. Nichols. 
Treasurer — Reuel P. Smith. Superintendent — S. N. 
LouR'ee. 



HISTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 49 

111 1872 Charles B. Aldrich removed his phxning works 
from Waterford to this estate, and soon afterward the Woon- 
socket Maclnne Works built a foundry thereon. The 
Woonsocket Gas Company have also purchased about t^vo 
acres, upon which they have erected a gasometer. Beside 
these, various parties have purchased house-lots there- 
on, and the farm of the "old maids" is fast losing its 
identity. 

Let us now go back again to the times of John Arnold. 
John, the son of John Arnold, lived on a farm which was 
situated near '* Logee Hill." He died when tliirty years of 
age : and September 2G, 1737, the estate was presented to 
liis son Moses. Moses afterwards purchased of his uncle, 
William, a farm in Cumberland, as has been mentioned 
before, Avhere he passed the remainder of his days. 

Israel Arnold, the third son of John, removed to Gloces- 
ter (now Burrillville) in early life. He is not, therefore, 
identified with Woonsocket history. 

Daniel Arnold was given l)y his father a large estate at 
the Union Village. He also became proprietor of lands on 
the Cuml>erland side of the river, of which I have s[)oken 
at length. 

Anthony Arnold was given sixt}' acres in the immediate 
vicinity of the Falls. The gift was made in August, 1733, 
and included the "island, with two corn mills and a fulling 
mill thereon." (See Smithfield Kecords, Book 1, page 72, 
and Cund)erland do.. Book 1, page 277.) July 17, 11o\\ 
vVntliony sold this estate to his brother Seth, and removed 
first to Dartmouth, ]\Iass., and subsequenth' to " Cromwell- 
bow-preirens, Dutchess county, in the province of Ncav 
York," if anybody knows where that is. 

Seth Arnold was given three hundred acres by his fatlier 
on the same day that Anthony received his gift. It Avas on 
the Smilhlield side of the river. This, with tlie sixty acres 
7 



50 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

purchased of his brother, made him the proprietor of what 
is now the business centre of the town. Tl^e sub-divisions 
of this extensive and valuable tract of land — a large portion 
of which became the property of his son, James Arnold — 
will be discussed at length in subsequent chapters. 

The homestead farm of John Arnold, and which com- 
prised what were afterwards the estates of Willing Vose 
and Ephraim Coe, was inherited by "his grandson, Arnold 
Pain, the son of his daughter Anna. I will now give the 
names and the residences of John Arnold's neighbors in 
these parts. The residence of his uncle, Samuel Comstock, 
was " in the lots," near where the house of Arioch Com- 
stock was built in after times, about midway between tlie 
Slatersville and Chepachet roads. His cousin, Hezediah 
Comstock, lived on what is known in these days as the 
" Comstock Place." It is now owned by Charles B. Aldrich, 
Esq. His niece Patience, the widow of Joseph Arnold, 
kept tavern where Mrs. Eliza Osborne now lives. His son 
Daniel lived nearly opposite to Patience. His nephew, 
Thomas Arnold, kejit tavern where Mr. Albert Mowry now 
resides. His niece Ruth, the wife of Richard Arnold, who 
had " absconded," lived on the " Abraham Arnold place." 
His son William lived in a house now standing on the top 
of the hill just back of the Globe Bank building. His son 
Seth lived in a house which has been recently removed, and 
which stood in the rear of the Globe Store. His grandson, 
Moses Arnold, lived in the vicinity of what is now Monu- 
ment Square. His nephew, W^oodward Arnold, whose 
residence was near Woonsocket Hill, had removed, and 
the place Avas now occupied by Nathan Staples. 

Philip Loja lived on the summit of " Logee Hill," and 
his brother Abraham on its easterly slope. The dwelling- 
house of the former v/as destroyed by lire a century ago. 
The cellar has been filled and the well covered. To-day 
there is nothing to mark the spot where once lived a 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 51 

Avealthy and highly-respected citizen of this region. A 
grandson of the latter is now an inmate of the Burrillville 
])Oor-house. As these men have given a name to a portion 
of our territory, I will show how " Logee Hill" came into 
their possession. The first proprietors were Edmund Inman, 
et ah. The second was William Sprague. The third was 
Richard Aldrich, who purchased it January 18, 1714-15, 
paying <£18. The fourth was Joseph Cooke, who bought it 
November 2G, 1727, for X200. The fifth was Abraham 
Loge, of Mendon, who became its proprietor June 23, 1729, 
after paying <£220. Philip probably became proprietor about 
the same time, or Philip and Abraham may have been sons 
of the Abraham above-mentioned. I have not deemed the 
matter of sufficient importance to look further. 



Appendix to Chapter III. 



A LIST OF TAX PAYERS IN THESE REGIONS JUNE IG, 1713. 

The following is one of three tax-lists levied upon the town of 
Providence on the above date. The sum total of the three was £102 
12s. Gd. The list which I give amounts to £G0 6s. The reader will 
recognize many Smithfield names. I therefore judge that at that 
time Providence was divided into three districts, one of Avhich, iu 
1731, became Smithfield— and that this was the Smithlleld list. The 
assessors were Samuel Wilkinson, Andrew Harris and Ebenezer 
Jenckes. The tax-collector was Richard Phillips. I have taken the 
trouble to arrange the names ali)habetically. But their original 
order may l)e restored by arranging them according to the numl)ers 
which prefix the names; and perhaps, l)y so doing, their dwelling- 



52 



HLSTOHY OF WOONSOCKET. 



places may be approximated; for, in ray opinion, those who made 
out the list arranged the names according to their order iipon the 
roads : 



130 Aldrich, Benjamin £0 2 6 

Ephraim 4 

" Samuel, weaver 10 

Samuel 10 2 

Angell, Capt IS 

Daniel 10 6 



103 
49 

88 
79 
77 
74 







9 
5 6 



' Hope 

73 " John, ;uul son 
James 

10 Arnold, Eleazer, and 

son Jos 1 

28 Arnold, Eleazev, jr 

45 " John, jr 18 

44 " Richard 18 

43 " Thomas 10 n 

11 " Thomas, jr.... 1 6 

41 Baulkcome, John 12 

3lBellu, James 10 

37 " John 6 

32 " N'athaniel 2 6 

128 " 01)adiah 

70 " Peter 

60 Blackmore, John and 

mother 

97 Browne, Hozanna 

30 Bull, Isaac 

42 Bullard, Isaac 



2 6 

8 



5 

6 6. 

6 

2 6 
5 
8 
12 
8 4 



129 Cartwright, Samson. . . 
52 Comstock, Daniel 

50 " Hazadiah.. 
46 " Sam., Capt, 

51 " Samuel, jr. 

104 " Thomas 2 6 

,30 Dexter, John 17 

107 Evans, David 3 

105 '* Richard 2 6 

106 " Richard, jr 4 

84 Field, Zachariah 5 

21 Harris, Richard 12 6 

91 Hawkins, Edward 15 

87 " Jos., and son 

Edward 1 



8 Man, Thomas £0 14 

61 Matthewson, Daniel ... 66 
58 Melavory, .John and 

mother 1 13 

94 Mitchell, Experience . . 6 1 
93 " John 5 

53 Mowry, Henry 8 6 

62 " John 14 

57 " .John, jr 5 

63 " Joseph 1 5 

40 " Nathaniel 15 

72 Olney, John 50 

76 " Josiah 8 

54 Phetteplace, Walter ... 3 

55 Phillips, James 8 

124 " John 2 6 

110 " Joseph 6 

50 " Richard 1(5 

125 Place, ISTathan 26 

92 " Peter 16 6 

24 Pre.y, Ephraim 13 

115 " Hugh 2 6 

23 " John 110 

126 Salisbury, Cornelius . . 5 4 
39 Sayles, John 16 8 

6 Scott, Capt 1 4 

64 Shippey, David 3 9 

75 " ISToah 3 

65 " Solomon 3 9 

113 " Thomas 3 

120 Sly, Henry 2 6 

34 " Stephen 3 

12 Smith, Benjamin, and 

mother 14 

13 Smith, Christopher.... 90 
14 
78 

108 

71 

82 
101 

48 



Edward 18 

Elisha 13 6 

Ephraim — ... 6 6 

Joseph 70 

Joseph, carp'ter 6 
Joseph, joiner. .080 
Thomas o 9 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



53 



26 II;nvkins,(Thos.,aii(Tson 7 

Ezekial £0 vr, 2 131 

OG Hawkins, William 117 

CiG Ilearnden, ]3enjamin ..039 88 

112 " John 5 90 

68 " John, jr.... 3 3 83 

m " ,loseph 7 6 80 

123 " Tliomas .... 50 100 

111 " Thomas, son 81 

of William 2 6 09 

07 Ilearnden, William .... 82 109 

OS Hide, Joseph 4 47 

121 Hopkins, Joseph 3 110 

35 " Thomas, jr.. o 15 

122 Howard, John, and son o 2 10 
4 Hull, Zuriel 5 18 

33 Inman, Edward 14 2 17 

.59 " Edward, jr GO 119 

27 " John, and mother IS 6 5 

114 " Samuel 3 38 

127 " Valentine 4 

1 Jenckes, Capt. Joseph.. 12 20 

2 •' Nathaniel .... 14 19 
lis " Obadiah 2 9 

3 " William 14 22 

85 King, James o 7 3 20 

102 Knowlton, Elisha 2 95 

89 Lewis, Eichard 5 25 

132 Man, Daniel 2 133 



Si)rague, Jonathan £0 

" Eichard 

William 

Steere, John 

" John, jr 

" Samuel 

" Thomas 

" William 

" or Sweet, Daniel 
Thornton, Benjamin... 

Tucker, Hannah 

Walling, James 

Whipple, Daniel 

" Eleazer 1 

" Eleazer, jr 

" James 

Job 

Seth 

" Thomas 

" William, and 

mother 

Whitman, Lieut 

" Mar j% widow 

Wilkinson, Deborah ... 1 

■' Samuel 1 

" Samuel 

Winsor, Joshua 

Woodward, Joseph — 
Wooley, Benoni 



IS G 

2 9 

4 




12 

3 4 

5 
2 

1 
7 

2 
5 


6 
6 
6 
8 



12 6 
17 

13 6 
10 
10 

7 9 
16 
12 

2 



Total £60 6 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE SETTLEMENT AT WOONSOCKET, AND THE PATHS 
AVHICH LED TO IT. 

I THINK that a while since we came up from the river a 
little too abruptly. It was hardly respectful. Let us return 
then to the river, for to this Woonsocket owes its existence, 
and but for this, you Avoald have been denied the ecstacy of 
buying and applauding these delightful pages. We may 
smile at tire superstition of the Hindoos for their worship of 
the sluggish Ganges ; but surely a tribute of respect is due 
to the bright and sparkling waters of the Blackstone, which, 
for so many generations, have furnished enjoyment and pros- 
perity to the inhabitants of these parts. Let us return to_ 
the river, and while gazing upon its beautiful cascades, or 
watching its placid bosom as it rolls on to the sea, let us 
uncover our heads, for we are in the presence of our kindest 
benefactor ! 

The first wheel in this region that was turned by its 
waters was that of a saw-mill, which stood where now 
stands the tower of the Ballou Manufacturing Company's 
Cotton Mill, near the dam. There are many now living 
who remember the ancient mill, but none can tell when the 
edifice was erected. If this could be told, the time could 
be nearly approximated when the axe and the plow of the 
pioneer first broke the solitudes of Northern Rhode Island. 
From documentary evidence which I have given, I have 
fixed the date at about the year 1(360, and the reader may 
dispute my conclusions at his leisure. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 55 

The next establishment wliicli the river supplied with 
power was a " corn and fulling mill." This was built by 
John Arnold about the year 1712. It Avas situated upon 
the "island" on the up-stream side of the present bridge 
at the " Falls." It was furnished with two water-wheels. 
These were placed one before the other, on the outside of 
the mill, towards the Smithfield shore, and in a narrow 
trench cut out of the rock, Avliich is still visible. 

The next concern to which the waters of the river were 
diverted, was what is called by aged people " The Old 
Forge," but which is spoken of in ancient documents as the 
"Bloomery," the " Refinery," the " Winsokett Iron Mill," 
etc. It was, in fact, an iron-mill, where iron was manufac- 
tured from the crude ore, which was chiefly obtained at a 
place called " Sea Patch River, in Glocester."* It was built 
sometime between the years 1712 and 1720. Id. 1720 
"William Hopkins was one ot the proprietors. An original 
deed is now in the possession of Moses Roberts, Esq., which 
conveyed one-fourth of the concern from Hopkins to Thomas 
Smith. (The grantor was the father of Gov. Stephen 
Hopkins; the grantee was the original owner of the hind 
upon which stands the Quaker meeting-house.) Among the 
])roprietors of the establishment from time to time Avere 
Judge Thomas Lapham, Silvanus Scott, Daniel Jenckes, 
Moses Aldrich (the celebrated Quaker preacher), his sons, 
Judge Caleb and Robert Aldricli (who were ancestors of 
many of our most respected citizens). Judge Thomas Arnold 
and Arnold Pain (the grandson of Jolni Arnold).! 

*See Cumb. Rcc, Book 3, page 287. 

flu 1739 the proprietors were : Thomas Lapliain, who owned 9-12; Silvanus Si'ott, who 
ownod 2-12 ; Daniel Jenckes, who owned 1-12. lu 1742 the proprietors were : Thomas Lap- 
luira, who owned 9-24; Silvanus Scott, who owned 4-24; Moses Aldrich, who owned 3-24; 
Thomas Sniitli, who owned 6-24; Thomas Arnold, who owned 2-24. In 1747 Robert Aldrich 
liud purchased the right of Thomas Lupliam. In 1750 the proprietors were : Robert Aldricli, 
who owned 3-24; Silvanus Scott, who owned 4-24; Caleb Aldrich, who owned 9-24; Tliomas 
Arnold, who owned 8-24. In 1760 the proprietors were : Robert Aldrich, who owne<l 3-8; 
Caleb .iUdrich, who owned 3-8; Arnold Tain, who owuf^d 2-8. 



56 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The " Forge Lot " covered an area of one quarter of an 
acre. The building stood end to the Cumberland side of 
the river, on land now occupied by the boiler-house of the 
Ballon Manufacturing Company. It was shaped neither like 
a barn or a hay-stack, and yet it resembled either. From 
descriptions which I have heard of it and its surroundings, 
I imagine that it resembled as much an iron-mill, or an 
entrance to a region forty or fifty miles below an iron-mill, 
as anything. Its roof pitched to the north and to the south, 
reaching nearly to the rocks from wlience its sides arose. It 
was furnished with three water-wheels. One of these was 
an overshot wheel, to v/hich the water was conveyed by 
a large pen stock from the saw-mill pond. During the 
Revolutionary War the business of this concern was quite 
lucrative, and its proprietors accumulated what were then 
considered large fortunes. At its close the business de- 
clined, and about the beginning of the present century had 
ceased altogether. Among the tenements connected with 
the " Old Forge," was a small house which stood on lands 
now occupied by the Rubber Works. It was a very small 
house, but it furnished slielter to Judge Caleb Aldrich and 
his young wife during their honeymoon, and for many suc- 
ceeding years. This building was afterwards removed to 
where the Globe Bank building nov.^ stands, and was 
known in the last generation as the " Cruff House." 

The next establishment which owed its existence to the 
water-power of the river was a " Scythe Manufactory." 
This stood on the island below the grist-mill and the bridge. 

These were all the manufacturing concerns which existed 
at the " Falls" previous to the great freshet of 1807,* when 
those which were not washed away thereby, were so disabled 

*Thc freshet of ISO" occurred in the month February. It was undoubtedly the greatest 
flood that ever swept down the valley of the river since the settlement of Northern Kliodc 
Island. One of equal magnitude to-day would submerge Market Square. The freshet of last 
March (1876) excited us somewhat, but the water lacked two and a half feet in coming up to 
the hole in the rock, drilled at the Globe to mark the height to which the waters arose iul807. 



HISTOBY OF WOONSOOKET. 67 

that business therein was never afterwards resumed. It may 
be well, however, to say in this connection, that the Scythe 
Manufactory was afterwards fitted up and used as a black- 
smith's shop. 

There were no streets in the days of John Arnold. These 
M'ere left for the intelligence and the wealth of subsequent 
generations to create. In the appendix I give an account of 
the highways of Old Smithfield in his day, and the names 
of those who lived beside them. I reserve the remainder of 
tliis chapter for the purpose of endeavoring to show you how 
his " corn-mill at the Falls " might have been reached with- 
out trespassing upon private property. The grand northern 
routes which went up on the right and the left banks of the 
river were known — the one as the Smithfield Mcndon Iload, 
and the other as the Cumberland Mendoii Road. 

In relation to the former, which was more particularly 
designated the G-reat Road, I have been able to ascertain 
Init little. Indeed, I could hardly be expected to do more 
than Judge Peleg Arnold, Henry Jenckes and John Man, 
who, ]\Iay 20, 1792, were chosen a committee b}^ the Town 
Council of Smithfield to look up the matter. In their report, 
made the following June, they say : /' That for a consider- 
able distance no surveys were to be found ; that it began at 
the ]\Iendon line, near Jedediah Wilson's : and that, in tlieir 
opinion, it was originally much wider than at that time." I 
can only add, that it is frequently alluded to in ancient 
documents, and that I have seen a reference thereto in a 
paper dated 1666 — a period near enough, I reckon, to the 
landing of the Pilgrims for all practical purposes. At that 
time it was simply a footpath, indicated by marked trees 
leading from cabin to cabin. November 26, 1733, it luid 
developed into a cart path. It then want over Sayles Hill. 
At that time Thomas Steere jietitioned to have it relaid. 
His petition was not granted ; and not until December 7, 
8 



68 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKfiT'. 

1741, was tlie great discovery made, that it was no farther 
and much easier to go around a hill than to go over it, and 
a committee was chosen by the Town Council — consisting of 
Dexter Aldrich, Joseph Arnold, Job Arnold and Israel Wil- 
kinson — to turn the " great road " around Sayles Hill, or in 
the language of their commission, " to lay out a highway, 
beginning where the house of John Balkcolm, deceased,* 
formerly stood, there to turn out of the old highway to the 
eastward, and to come into it again before it comes to John 
Man's." This relay, to reverse the order of the " lay out," 
started from its intersection with the old road just north of 
John (now Stafford) Mann's, and proceeded through the 
lands of Lieutenant Stephen Sly, who lived and kept tavern 
where Mr. David S. Wilkinson now resides ; of Henry 
Mowry,f who lived on the old Nathaniel Mowry homestead, 
Avhere the late Miss Sarah Ann Mowry last dwelt ; and of 
the heirs of John Balkcolm, who was an innkeeper on lands 
now ovt'ned and occupied l)y Dwight Hammond, Esq. From 
this point the road pursued nearly its present course, by the 
Quaker meeting-house, through the Union Village, and to 
" the Mendon line near Jedecliah Wilson's." 

The Cumlerland Metidon Hoad, or a portion of it, was 
originally laid out by the proprietors of Rehoboth. The 
lower portion thereof is known to this day as the " old 
Rehoboth road." December 10, 1650, the Rehoboth pro- 
prietors voted " to have a convenient way, four rods wide, 
to be made by Edward Smith, to be for the town's use, or 
any that shall have occasion to pass from town (Seekonk 
Plain) to Providence or to Mr. Blackstone's." It came up 
the east side of the river, crossed the Abbott Run River at 
Vallev Falls, passed the "park" of Mr. Blackstone at 
Lonsdale, went through the lands of the Whipples, Pecks, 
Bartletts, and others, over Cumberland Hill, and so on by 

*Jolm Bulkcom died in 1740. 

tncnry Mowry was tlie brotlier of John Arnold's IJrst wife. 



HISTORY OF AYOONSOCKET. 59 

"Crook's" to tlie Mendon line. But neither the Smithfield 
nor the Cumberhmd Mendon roads came to the corn-mill of 
John Arnold. 

There were two public routes by which the Cumberland 
Mendon road could be reached. 1. A portion of one of these 
has developed into Main and North INIain streets, and is 
sometimes called the " Old Mendon Road." 2. A portion 
of the other is now Social street. There were four public 
routes on the other side of the river which intersected with 
the " Smithfield Mendon," alias the " Great Road," namely : 
3. South Main street. 4. Logee street and the " river road" 
to the lower Quaker meeting-house. 5. Providence street, 
from its intersection with South Main street to the " Great 
Road" at Daily Plole. 6. A road which has been aban- 
doned for nearly or quite a century, and which came up 
from the "wading place," passed through the fields on the 
rear of the Willing Vose farm, and united with the Great 
Road at Daily Hole. 

Of the above-mentioned six roads, three formed a portion 
of a very ancient highway from Boston to the Connecticut 
settlements, which, crossing the Great Road at the Union 
Village, made the " Cross Roads," which was one of the 
causes of the increase of population at Woonsocket. These 
three roads were : 1. Social and Main streets. 2. North 
Main and Main streets. 3. South Main street. 

Both Social and North Main streets, which unite at Monu- 
ment Square, are very ancient. Either might have formed 
})art of the Boston highway, for both entered the Cumber- 
land Mendon Road — the one at Crooks's, and the other a 
short distance north. I have seen an allusion to the former* 



*In ITS') Ebonczpr Cook was puitl £10 by the town of Mendon, for builiVinj; a bridge across 
Mill Kiver. 



60 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

as early as 1735 ; to the latter,* February 2, 1750 ; and to 
the road in the vicinity of the Falls,! in 1710. 

In the most ancient times there were two ways of crossing 
the river at Woonsocket. One was at the '' rafting place, "t 
which was near where the Clinton Mill now is ; the other 
was at the " wading place," which was near Avhere tlie new 
mill of the Ballon Manufacturing Company now is. 

3. The first move towards laying out what is known in 
these days as South Main street was made September 13, 
1731. On this day the Town Council of Smithfield voted 
to lay out a " Highway from John Arnold's corn-mill, south- 
west by Charles Shearlock's to Woodward Arnold's (who 
lived near Woonsocket Hill, afterwards known as the Nathan 
Staples place), with the reservation that John Arnold " have 
the liberty to keep up the gate where it now stands, until 
there be a cart-bridge erected across the river at the Falls." 
August 9, 1788, this road was extended to the western 
limits of the town.§ 

4. The road — a portion of which is known in these days 
as Logee street, and the remainder as the River road, or in 
more ancient times as the East road — in the beginning went 
over Logee Hill and doAvn the right bank of the river, inter- 
secting with the "Great Road" in the Moshassuck valley. 



*At this time tlietown of Cumberland appointed a committee, consisting of Samnel Bart- 
lett, John Cass and Ehjali Newell; Job Bartlett, Justice of the Peace; and Jeremiah Inman, 
Constable. This Committee reported as follows : That they began work at a small brook 
that rumieth in a pond called Sprague's Pond. (The dwelling house of Sprague was where 
Harris's new mill now stands). Thence to Arnold's Saw Mill at Wiusokett. They were also 
empowered to lay out another road from the saw mill, through the " Forge Lot " to the foot 
of the bridge — and also to lay out a road from the road described, to the " Wading Place " 
below the Falls, 

fAn allusion to this is in the deed from Chapin to Arnold, which I have given in a previ- 
ous chapter. 

};See Deed from .John Arnold to his son Anthony, in Smitlifield. Eec. of Deeds Book 1, 
page 72. 

§T]ie language of the lay-out is as follows : Laid out a highway from the northerly side of 
Nathan Staples, his farm he bought of Woodward Arnold (Staples purchased the farm July 
4, 1737), and it runs away south-westerly by Gideon Comstock's, and so goes along, until it 
mceteth with the " Seven mile line." 



IITSTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 61 

near the lower Quaker meeting-liousc. It was laid out* in 
1732. 

5. The next connection, in the order which I have enum- 
erated, with the "Great Road" w^as b3=" the way of a road 
which has since developed into Providence s-treet. This 
was laid out Ma}' 23, 1752, " across Mr. John Arnold's farm, 
where he now dwelleth, and close to 3'e west end of the 
liouse," and " begins adjoining to ye northerly side yt high- 
way yt leads to Pawtucket river below ye Falls, yn north 

to ye other highway (South Main street) yt goes 

some distance northward from ye said Mr. Arnold's house." 
Since its first lay-out it has been changed in its course some- 
what. The residence of Hon. Thomas Steere is in the old 
road, and the front side of John Arnold's house, now oc- 
cupied by A. C. Munroe, is on the back side. The drive- 
way across the brook is still visible, and a ridge across the 
fields beyond reveals the ancient path. 

6. The highway from which the above highway started 
has been abandoned for nearly or quite a century. Indeed, 
the establishment of Providence street deprived it of its use- 
fulness. Its coursef has been previously described. 

THE BRIDGES AT THE FALLS. 

The first bridge at the Falls was built about the year 1736. 

*The petition for tliis road was presented to the Council January 10, 1731-2. Aug. 7, fol- 
lowing, a committee was chosen to lay out the road from the late residence of James Dexler, jr., 
deceased, "to begin at the comitry road, by Justice Sprague's, and against the Lower Meet- 
ing Ilouse, and so up along by Whipple and bj' David Wilkinson, and so up as far as the 

mills at Wansoket, and join to that highway that goes by Justice Arnold's new house. Tlie 
Committee reported the following October, but the Council accepted only that portion which 
was north of Crook Falls Brook. May 1.3, 1745, the southern portion was accepted, but as no 
record had been made thereof, a Committee was chosen the following February to revise the 
bounds. This Committee but partially accomplished the work, as was also the case with 
another Committee appointed in 1753. The whole of the road was not satisfactorily laid out 
until November, 1796. It was then laid out the entire distance from the " South side of the 
Woonsocket highway that leads over tlie Falls," to the " highway from Woonsocket to Provi 
deuce, near the old meeting house." 

tThe following is a description thereof: Sept. 13, 1731, it was voted lluit " thorp be a liigh- 
M-ay from the road that goes by Danl. JIatthewson's to the Pawtucket River, a little below 
Arnold's Corn ^lill, where the way now crosses the river — also to complete tlie same to the 
" Seven mile line." This road went through the lands of John Arnold, Thomas Smith, 
Thomas Smith, jr., John Smith, Col. Joseph Whipple and John Mowry. 



62 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

Towards its erection the Legislature* appropriated £128, 
and an additional sum was raised by private subscription. 

The second bridge was built in 17(32, the funds therefor 
being supplied by a lottery, authorized by the General 
Assembly.! The year previous the mile-stone, which now 
stands near the store of John Currier, was placed in position. 

The third bridge| was built in 1787, the Legislature 
legalizing a lottery for the purpose, by which X900 were 
raised. Up to this time the bridge from the Smithfield 
shore to the " island " was nearly in a direct line with the 
Cumberland shore. The mortices cut in the rock on the 
Smithfield shore near the present dam, and on the "island," 
which are now plainly visible, reveal its position. It was 
now built a few rods down stream, and occupied nearly its 
present site, [n other words, the bridge of 1762 was above 
the grist-mill of John Arnold, aud the bridge of 1787 was 
placed below it. 

About twenty years subsequent to the erection of this 
third bridge at the Falls, two remarkable events occurred. 
One was the passage of a bridge at Lodi, wliich is often 
referred to in cotemporaneous history ; the other was a 
passage of the bridge at Woonsocket Falls, which has 
hitherto escaped the notice of the poet and the historian. 
As the courage and heroism displayed in these two passages 
bore a striking resemblance to each other, it will not be out 
of order for me to give the heroes of the Woonsocket Bridge 
a niche in the Temple of Fame, as has been done by the hero 
of the bridge of Lodi. I must say, however, at the outset, 
that the reader will lack the sober and matter-of-fact expres- 
sion, as well as the dry humor of Mr. Stafford Mann, who 
related to me the incident, v/hich is as follows : " Col. Simon 

*See R. I. Col. Rec, Vol. IV., pp. 514 and 552. 

jThis Lottery consisted of 1,375 tickets at £S old IVuor each. There were 4-59 Prizes, rang- 
ing from £16 to £500 and 916 Blanks. The net to be applied towards the erection of the 
Bridge was £1,002. 

JR. I. Col. Rec, Vol. X., page 260. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 63 

Whipple and Mr. James Arjiold, at that time young men, 
liad been or were going somewhere. The precise point of 
their destination or their departure is immaterial. At all 
events, they had tarried at Judge Peleg Arnold's inn a 
sufficient length of time to undertake almost any journey. 
They had but one horse upon which to perform their trip, 
but as it was the custom in those days to ride " double," the 
Colonel mounted the steed and James took position behind 
him. On their Avay from the inn to the bridge, James re- 
quested that he might be allowed to dismount at the bank 
of the river, to which, of coarse, the Colonel, with the true 
politeness of the soldier, assented. But upon arriving at the 
bridge, heedless or forgetful in his military ardor of the re- 
quest of his friend James, he put spurs to his horse, and 
over they went." As an illustration of the opposite effects 
produced upon different organizations by a visit to Judge 
Peleg's, and also of the condition of the bridge at the time, 
it is said that the Colonel felt, as his steed flew over the 
titling planks, as though he was astride the charger of 
Napoleon ; while to James, the perilous passage had all the 
horrors of a hideous nightmare. This bridge was swept 
away by the great freshet of 1807. In August of that year 
the town of Smithfield appropriated two hundred dollars 
towards rebuilding the " westermost or Capital Bridge" and 
the middle bridge. The amount which Cumberland appro- 
priated towards completing the connection with its shores I 
have not taken the trouble to ascertain. These bridges were 
wooden structures. 

In 1825 Dexter Ballon and David Wilkinson, acting under 
the authorities of the town, erected a stone arch bridge from 
the Smithfield shore to the island. This bridge is now 
standing. 

In 1833 Aaron liathbun and Cephas Holbrook replaced 
the middle bridge with a stons arch bridge. This was 



64 HI9T0EY OP WOONSOCKET. 

poorly constructed, and in 1861 it was replaced by another 
stone arch bridge, built from plans furnished by the late S. 
B. Gushing, which Avill doubtless remain for many years, as 
one of the many monuments to the skill of this gentleman 
which adorn the valley of the Blackstone. 

In 1843 Mr. Eugene Martin constructed a stone arch 
Inidge from the Cumberland shore to the eastern end of 
the middle arch bridge. This was imperfectly built, and 
has been recently replaced by a substantial wooden structure. 



APPENDIX TO CHAPTER IV. 



A LIST OF THE HIGHWAYS OF OLD SMITHFIELD IX 1748, 

AND THE NA3IES OF THOSE WHO WERE OBLIGED, BY LAW, TO KEEP 
THEM IN TIEPAIK. 

The reader will be hereby introduced to " every male person of sound 
body and 21 years of age, except apprentices, slaves and idiots," who 
were citizens of the town at that time. In the year 1748 the town 
was divided into IG Highway districts. 

District N'o, 1 began at Patience Arnold's (who kept tavern at tlie 
Union village, on the estate now owned by Mrs. Eliza Osborne) so to 
extend northwesterly over the Branch Kiver, and all the roads west 
and northwest of said river. The citizens therein Avere: 
Daniel Comstock, jr., Benjamin Buxton, Jonathan Eead, 
Hezadiah Comstock, Isaac Buxton, Thomas Gruff, 

Ichabod Comstock, Isaac Buffum, Thomas Gruff, jr., 

Kichard Sprague, Isaac Kelley, Samuel Gruff, 

Amos Sprague, Providence Williams, Jacol) Bead, 

Benjamin Buffum, John Sprague, ]3enj. Buffum, jr., 

Samuel Goldthwaitc, Daniel Comstock, Daniel Sprague, 

Israel Phillips, Benjamin Boyce, ISTathaniel Staples, 

Benjamin Thompson, Adam Ilarkness, Samuel Buxton, jr. 

Samuel Buxton, Azariah Conistock„ 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



65 



District No. 2, began at Samuel AUlrieh (near Union village), so 
down to where the new road turns out of the old, and then the new 
and the old road to where they intersect on the Hill, a little southeast 
from the Little Kiver Bridge— also, the cross road by Benjamin Paine 
and Uriah Mowry (on Sayles's Hill): 
John Sayles, Daniel Sayles, 

Uriah Mowry, Joshua Phillips, 

Benjamin Paine, David Ilerrendeen, 

Capt. Richard Sayles, Jonathan Phillips, 
Eichard Sayles, jr., Stephen Sly, 
Elisha Sayles, Ebenezer Thornton, 



Henry Mowry, 
Edward Mitchell, 
Elisha Mowry, 
Daniel Walling. 



District No. 3, began at Locusquesset Brook, (near Lime Rock) and 
so up the Highway, till it comes to where two roads meet on tlie Hiil, 
a little southeast from the Little River Bridge: 



Peter Bellowe, jr., 
John AVhitman, 
Preserved Harris, 
Jonathan Harris, 
Valentine AVhitman, 



Jabez Brown, 
Xoah Whitman, 
Nicholas Brown, 
John Bellowe, 
Samuel Bellows, 



John Bellowe, jr., 
Jonathan Bellowe, 
Benjamin Brown, 
Manassa Kimpton, 
Christopher Bullock. 



District No. 4, began at Locusquesset Brook to Providence line, also 
the Cross Road by Jonathan Arnold's, beginning at the old highway 
by the Lime Kiln, to end where said highway intersects with the 
highway that goes by Dr. Jenckes— also the'Cross Road from Abra- 
ham Scott to Pawtucket River: 



AVm. AVhi]ii)le, jr., 
Jeremiah Mowry, 
Nathaniel ]5ucklin, 
Benjamin ]Medbury, 
Wm. Jenckes, Esq., 
Benjamin Arnold, 
Samuel Bagley, 
Anthony Whipple, 
Jerrh. Weatherhead, 
William AAliipple, 



Benjamin Smitli, 
Jonathan Arnold, 
Job Arnold, 
Amos Arnold, 
AVilliam Bensley, 
John Whipple, 
Manassa Kelley, 
Benjamin Medbury, 
Caleb Arnold, 
Jeremiah Arnold, 



Jeremiah Arnold, jr., 
William Brown, 
John Arnold, 
Nathan Tucker, 
Abraham Scott, 
John AVeatherhead, 
Andrew Young, 
Christopher Jenckes, 



District No. 5, began at the old Quaker Meeting House, so north- 
easterly and northerly to Thomas J^apliam's (near Albion): 



John Dexter, 
Jonathan Sprague, 
AA'illiam Sprague, 
John AVilkinson, 



John AVilkinson, jr., 
Thos. Lapliani, Esq. 
Capt. Job AVhipple, 
Stephen AVliip]>le, 



Ephraim AVhipple, 
Samuel Smith. 



m 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKEl'. 



District No. 0, began at Thomas Lapliam's, and so north, to "VVoon- 
socket Falls. (The Eiver Eoacl from Albion up): 
Joseph Lapham, Caleb Shrete, Israel Wilkinson, 

Azarial Phillips, James Jillson, John Eogers, 

William Gretlej^ David Patt, Capt. ^Ym. Sprague. 

Elisha Dillingham, Aaron Day, 



District IN'o. 7, began at Daniel Wilbur's 
from same place to Christopher Brown's: 



Benjamin Cook, 
Thomas Wood^Yard, 
Robert Young, 
Samuel Tucker, 
Maturin Ballowe, 
Peter Ballowe, 



Obadiah Olney, 
Job Chase, 
Baulstine Brayton, 
William Olney, 
John Jenekes, 
William Bradbury, 



Maturin Ballowe, jr., DanieJ Bradbury, 
James Mussey, William Pullen, 



to Providence line— also, 

Daniel Wilbur, 
Capt. Ei chard Harris, 
Jeremiah Harris, 
Christopher Brown, 
Abiah Angell, 
John Olney. 



District oSTo. 8, began at saw mill by James Appleby, to Thomas 
Sayles, and from Elisha Cook's towards Providence line, till it comes 
to Ebenezer Herrendeen's: 

Elisha Cook, William Eaets, Joseph Mowry, 3d, 

Joseph Page, Henry Blackmar, Silvanus Sayles, 

Ebenezer Herrendeen, John Blackmar, Capt. Daniel Mowry. 

Thomas Sayles, Theophilus Blackmar, 

Stephen Sayles, Aaron Herrendeen, 



District Ko. 9, began at Glocester line, west of John Sayles, jr., so 
easterly by Othonial Matthewson, thence northeast to Woonsocket 
Ealls— also a piece from Thomas Sayles to aforesaid road: 



Othonial Matthewson, Mikel Phillips. 
Daniel Smith, James Walling, 

John Comstock, Ananias Mowry, 

Jeremiah Brown, John Sayles, jr., 

Daniel Phillips, John Smith, 



Samuel Aldrich, 
Samuel Tucker, 
Thomas Smith, 
Cornelius Walling, 
Eeuben Aldrich. 



District oSTo. 10, began at Ebenezer Herrendeen, down to Daniel 



Wilbur: 

Thomas Herrendeen, 
Henry Morton, 
Jacob Smith, 
Thomas Shippee, jr., 
Christopher Shippee, 
William Havens, 



Thomas Shippee, 
Obadiah Herrendeen, 
Nathan Shippee, 
Benjamin Ballard, 
John Young, 
Silas Tucker, 



Joseph Herrendeen, 
Jos. Herrendeen, jr., 
Erancis Herrendeen, 
Gideon Pain, 
Jeremiah Ballard. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



67 



District ^o. 11, began at Providence line, near Isaac White's, to 
the " Logway," also the Cross Koad from Daniel Angell, to tlie Ishind 
Road : 



Thomas Steere, Philip Smith, 

Joseph Chillson, Daniel Angell, 
Noah Smith's widow, John Angell, 

Daniel Smith, Thomas Bradbury, 

Jonathan Smith, Ilezekiah Sprague, 

John Pliillips, John Smith, jr., 

Elisha Smith, Job Angell, 



Ezekiel Angell, 
James Young, 
Amos Keacli, 
Thomas Owen, 
Major William Smith, 
Daniel Smith. 



District No. 12, began at Abraham Smith's barn, so soutlieast by 
Smith's house, to Providence line: 



Leland Smith, 
Peter Barnes, 
Nathan Barnes, 



Enoch Barnes, 
John Barnes, 
Joseph Smith, 



Jos. Smith, son of Jos., 
John Treadeven, 
Joseph Page. 



District No. 13, began at tlie corner of Abraham Smith's fence, 
near the Baptist Meeting House, thence, northerly l)y Smith, so up 
the " Logway " to Glocester line, also the cross road, beginning at the 
saw mill by his house, thence southerly to aforesaid road : 



Joseph Appleby, Thomas Beadle, 

Capt. Joseph Mowry, Daniel Arnold, 

George Place, Silvanus Aldrich, 

Joseph Mowry, jr., Peter Aldrich, 



John Aldrich, 
Stephen Goodspeed, 
Oliver Mowry, 
Abraham Smith. 



District No. 14, l)egan at Glocester line, by Widow Steere's, to Prov- 
idence line, all below Joseph Carpenter's: 



Samuel Aldrich, jr., 
Robert Latham, 
Joseph Carpenter, 
Zachariah Rhodes, 
David Evans, 



David Evans, jr., 
Joseph Aldrich, 
Job Potter, 
Samuel Winsor, 
Ilezekiah Steere, 



Joseph Smitli, jr. 
Thomas Euches, 
Joshua Winsor, 
John \Vinsor. 



District No. 15, began at Glocester line, a little west of Benjamin 
Wilkinson, thence down to Providence line— also from Resolved 
Waterman's, thence southwesterly to Glocester line, by Snake Hill: 



Abraham Winsor, Samuel Irons, 
Benjamin Wilkinson, Rol)ert Staples, 
J5enjamin Wright, Andrew Waterman, 
Joshua Winsor, jr., Daniel Eddy, 



Abel Potter, 
Resolved Waterman, 



68 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



District No. 16, began at Glocester line, near Daniel Matthewson, 
thence northeasterly by his honse to Wainsocket Falls, till it meets 
Cumberland in the middle of the Bridge. Also, beginning at Patience 
Arnold's, thence down to District 'No. 2. (This was a portion of the 
Great Road to Sayles Hill, and South Main Street, west to Burrill- 
ville): 

Joseph Comstock, Seth Arnold, 
Hezadiah Comstock, Moses Arnold, 
David Comstock, Esq., Abraham Loja, 
Thomas Man, Philip Loja, 

Capt. Daniel Arnold, Jeremiah Comstock, 
Widow Patience " Oliver Man, 
Lieut. Thos. Arnold, Caleb Aldrich. 
William Arnold, Esq., 
John Arnold, 



N'athan Staples, 
Seth Cook, 
Nathaniel Eddj^, 
Elisha Arnold, 
Richard Arnold, 
Stephen Arnold, 
Samuel Cook, 
John Man, jr., 
Samuel Aldrich, 3d, 



CHAPTER V. 

ENTEKTAINMENT FOR MAN AND BEAST. 

From the most ancient times, Woonso(3ket and " the 
region tliereabouts " has been celebrated for its hotels. 
These taverns owed their existence to the roads, which 
have been described. A tavern, indeed, is simply a stage- 
coach deprived of its wheels. It is, therefore, necessary 
that I should speak of them. 

I shall confine myself chiefly to those which were on the 
Smithfield side of the river, for two reasons — first, the Cum- 
berland taverns in ancient times seldom were visited by 
travelers from Woonsocket ; and, second, because my space 
is limited. 

Coming up the "Great Road" in the days of John Arnold, 
the traveler might have refreshed himself at the tavern of 
Jeremiah Arnold. This was in the valley of the Mosshas- 
suck, in the vicinity of the lower Quaker meeting-house. 
It was licensed November 26, 1733, but was closed in 1735, 
in consequence of "little custom." He might next have 
stopped at the house of Jeremiah Mowry. His house was 
near Lime Rock. It is probably the oldest house in these 
parts, having been l)uilt by Eleazer Whipple* Avhen John 
Arnold was a boy. It is now owned and occupied by Ben- 
jamin and Elisha MoAvry. Jeremiah was licensed January 
1, 1747. The old " bar-room " will l)e shown to the curious 
by its present occupants. But for nearly a century it has 

*A prohibitory liquor law seems to have been in operation in those early clays. Among the 
]iost-humous papers of Ucnry Mowry, I tind that January 10, 1V28-9, he was summoned to 
appear and testify concerning Eleizcr Whipple's sellincj srnoNG LiQiron at retail. 



70 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

not been used as such. If the tourist continued over Sayles 
Hill, he might have tarried at the house of Benjamin Pain. 
This man was a son-in-law of John Arnold. The first 
" Pound " of the town of Smithfield was built near his 
residence in 1738. The same year a pair of stocks and a 
whipping-post were placed near the residence of John Sayles, 
in that vicinity. Whether the latter institutions were con- 
sequences of the taverns, the records do not reveal. Ben- 
jamin was licensed January 3, 1732-3, and kept a tavern for 
many years. Among his guests I read of Hezadiah Corn- 
stock, a citizen of these parts, whose love of fun, frolic and 
rum has preserved his name not only in the traditions but 
the history of Northern Rhode Island. Among the papers 
of Henry Mowry (who was constable in these "parts during 
the infancy of Smithfield), is the copy of a writ against poor 
Hezadiah, for demolishing the household goods of the Sayles 
Hill landlord. If the traveler went around the hill, he might 
have stopped at the tavern of Lieutenant Stephen Sly. This 
stood on the farm now owned by David S. Wilkinson, Esq. 
The next public-house was that of John Balkcom. This 
stood on the estate now owned by Dwight Hammond. John 
was licensed August 25, 1735. He died about five years 
afterwards, and the business was not continued at his liouse. 

Finally, we arrive at the VVoonsocket cross-roads. The 
first innkeeper at this place was Joseph Arnold, the nephew 
of John. He was licensed November 26, 1733. The house 
in which the tavern was kept stood where now stands the 
residence of Mrs. Eliza Osborne. It was a long building, 
standing end to the road. At first it was the dwelling-house 
of Hezadiah Comstock, and was built about the year 1705. 
In 1730 he gave or sold it to his son William, and erected 
his new dwelling-house on the farm now owned by C. B. 
Aldrich, Esq. William sold the property to Joseph Arnold, 
in 1714 ; but I am of the impression that Joseph had occu- 



HrSTOKT OP WOONSOCKET. 71 

pied tlic estate for many years. Joseph Arnold died De- 
cember 10, 1745, and his widow Patience, nee Wilkinson, 
continued to keep the tavern until September, 1773. This 
was a noted resort in the last century. Here courts were 
held and fed ; Town Councils assembled and entertained ; 
and soldiers for the old French War were recruited and 
quartered. I embrace this opportunity to speak of its land- 
lord, Joseph Arnold. 

Joseph Arnold M^as a man of sterling qualities, and held 
in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen. He was chosen, 
in company with John Sayles, to settle up accounts with 
Providence when Smithfield was incorporated; and the next 
year (1732) was elected Town Clerk. On the resignation 
of Daniel Jenckes, who was Town Clerk from 1733 to De- 
cember 27, 1742, Joseph was re-elected, and held the position 
until his death, in 1745. It is pleasant to learn that in those 
ancient times, when the value of a "mear" in Rhode Island 
was X35 and that of a "nigger" but X70, Joseph Arnold 
was an ardent and conscientious anti-slavery man; so much 
so, indeed, that on his visits to the Newport yearly meetings, 
he would not stop at the hotels or the houses of those who 
held slaves. Among his children whom I enumerate in the 
appendix was Dr. William Arnold, whose virtues and abilities 
are spoken of to this day with the deepest respect. 

The next tavern at Woonsocket was kej)t by Thomas 
Arnold, a brother of Josepli. In liis younger days he was 
known as Lieut. Thomas, and afterwards as Judge Thomas. 
He was licensed September 15, 1739. His death occurred 
December 11, 17G5. In 1780 this house was enlarged by 
Peleg Arnold, a son of Thomas, and again became a tavern. 
Peleg Arnold Avas a very inlluential man in these parts. 
During his life no political measure was entered upon in 
Northern Rhode Island, witliout first attem})ting to conciliate 
his opposition or to secure his favor. He was born June 10, 



72 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

1751. He lived at the Arnold homestead, now occupied by 
Albert Mowry, Esq. Towards the close of his life, Judge 
Peleg was widely known, not only as an extensive dealer, 
but an ardent lover of New England rum. His portrait now 
adorns the walls of Rhode Island Hall. 

At the Globe Village, on the hill, in the rear of the old 
Bank building, stands a two-story yellow house. One hun- 
dred and fifty years ago this was the residence of one Avho, 
judging from the frequency of his name on the early records 
(and almost invariably with a handle to it), was one of the 
most influential men in Northern Rhode Island in the last 
century — I refer to "William Arnold, of Smithfield, Esq." 
This man was the eldest son of John Arnold. He was 
licensed to retail strong liquors March 3, 1734-5. Sep- 
tember 15, 1758, he was licensed to keep a tavern where he 
"now dwells." But I am of the impression that "Sc^uire 
Will " did not keep a tavern, but retailed rum in his grocery 
store. I was pained to find that one year he broke his 
license by keeping a disorderly house. 

As the travelers upon the highways and the citizens of 
Woonsocket increased in numbers, more taverns became a 
necessity. The dwelling-houses of Mr. Wellington Aldrich 
and of Miss Hannah Speare, at the Union Village, were at 
one time rival institutions. The first was built by Marcus, 
the son of Daniel Arnold, who was the son of Uriah Arnold. 
Its first landlord was Amasa Bagl}^ Its last was George 
Aldrich, the father of Wellington. The second was built by 
Walter Allen, and afterwards kept by his son Seth. Its first 
occupant was Paul Draper. The good times which have 
taken place beneath the roofs of these taverns are remem- 
bered to this day with lively satisfaction. The homestead 
of the late Seth Bradford was at one time a tavern, and kept 
by Joseph Mann, a grandson of Joseph Arnold. This was 
a famous resort in the last generation, and anecdotes are 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 73 

related of occurrences therein which I am prevented from 
repeating. These taverns, which were so much of a neces- 
sity in old times, were also the occasion of no little trouble, 
for rum was just as good, and did as much harm then, as 
now. 

In a region where taverns were so numerous — where train- 
ings were held, where town meetings assembled from time 
to time, and where, in the language of an aged resident 
of these parts, "fighting and huckleberrying" were the chief 
sources of amusement — there must necessarily have been 
characters. That some of these were rather hard may be 
inferred from the fact that the last culprit at the whipping- 
post, which stood in the yard of Joseph- Arnold's tavern, 
after receiving his flogging, ran off with the Sheriff's gloves. 
On the other hand, men and women have lived in Woon- 
socket whose memories are held to this day in the dee23est 
veneration and respect. Of these I shall speak in due 
season. In the meantime, allow me to make you acquainted 
with Dr. Ezekiel Comstock ! 

That Woonsocket was situated at a " cross-roads," is true 
not only in fact, but in metaphor. In the latter sense, its 
religious and educational advantages clearly indicated the 
direction of one of its paths, while its institutions of a dif- 
ferent nature as clearly pointed the course of the other. A 
statue of Dr. Comstock would move the homage of the tra- 
veler upon eitlier of these highways. For his virtues were 
the emulation of the one, and iiis vices the delight of the 
otlicr. The ease with which he accommodated iiimsulf to 
all sorts and conditions of men was marvelous. As the oc- 
casion required he was polite, sedate and dignified, or the 
opposite. The grandest parlor and the dingiest bar-room 
were gladdened by liis presence. The sick chamber and the 
banquet-hall were brightened by his smiles. He would have 
been an acceptable companion to Chesterfield or Dr. John- 
10 



74 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

son. George Fox would have applauded his sobriety or 
Charles 11. his drunkenness. He was, in short, a strange 
combination of good and evil. But with all his eccentri- 
cities, he never forfeited the respect of his fellow-citizens. 
Even the victim of his hardest joke forgot his folly when the 
laugh was spent, and never failed to seek his aid in hours of 
suffering and pain. Such was Dr. Ezekiel Comstock, the 
Prince Hal of these regions in the last generation, whose 
numberless pranks are remembered by some with a forgiving 
smile, by others with shouts of laughter, and by none with 
1)itterness. It is only necessary to say, in conclusion, and 
that the reader may know that he came honestly by his 
virtues, that he Avas the grandson of Hezakiah Comstock, 
who in a previous generation had enlivened things in this 
vicinity to a remarkable degree. 

The first tavern at the "Falls" was at one time the 
dwelling-house of James Arnold. It stood where now 
stands the Woonsocket Hotel. Its first landlord was Caleb 
Adams. He was succeeded by Cephas Holbrook. Mr. Hol- 
brook afterwards (about the year 1829) built another build- 
ing on the site, but the enterprise was too great for him, and 
in a short time the property was owned by the Woonsocket 
Hotel Company. 

The landlords under this regime were Willard and Luke 
Whitcomb, Charles E. Richards, and, finally, Reuel Smith. 
During the administration of the last-named gentleman, the 
property was sold to Messi-s. Cook and Ballon. They began 
April 1, 1846. Otis D. Ballon afterwards became sole owner 
of the estate, and built up for himself during his long ad- 
ministration a reputation not only as a model landlord, but 
an honorable and exemplary man. A few years since he 
retired from active business with a snug competency, and 
the property Avas purchased by Messrs. Cook, Mason & Co. 
Since they have had the estate in charge, they have ex- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 75 

hibited to the world their iihility to "keep a hoteh" Under 
them the old hotel has been removed up River street, and a 
beautiful brick edifice now adorns the site. 

There Avere other hotels at the Falls durino- tlic last 
o-oneration which deserve mention. One was at the Globe. 
This has since heen altered and enlarged, and is now the 
boarding-house of the Eallou Manufacturing Company. An- 
other was where now stands the commodious and beautiful 
house of L. W. Elliott, known in these days as the "Monu- 
ment House." The old hotel at this place, which has been 
removed across Social street, was at first a tin-shop. This 
was altered and enlarged, and finally developed or degener- 
ated into a tavern — giving the name in the last generation 
to the locality of " Tinker's Corner." 



CHAPTER VI. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The spirit of civil and religious liberty for which Rhode 
Island has been so distinguished, is due in no small degree to 
the influence which the Quakers exerted in shaping the poli- 
tics as Avell as the religion of the Colony in which the}^ had 
sought refuge, and where, for many j^ears, they were its law- 
givers. 

In the year 165G, while under the new dogma of its founder, 
the population and the anarchy of our little Colony were 
rapidly increasing, this despised and persecuted sect ap]:)eared 
in New England. After a few trifling incidents, in which 
the persons of numy bore striking evidences to the pious zeal 



76 HISTOEY OF ■WOONSOCKET. 

of the Massachusetts saints, they arrived within the limits of 
Rhode Island. The}^ were not received with open arms. 
They were simply tolerated. But in the short space of six- 
teen years, in spite of the zeal and the logic of the founder of 
religious freedom, a majority of the freemen of the Colony had 
become believers in the simple and convincing truths which 
they enunciated. 

When or where their first meetings were held in the town 
of Providence, is unknown. The first meeting-house, of 
which there is any record, was erected in 1703-4, and is now 
standing in the valley of the Moshassuck, near the village of 
Lonsdale. This was simply a meeting-house for worship. 
Their " Monthly meetings " continued to be held and their 
records to be kept at Greenwich. 

But the peculiar position of the Woonsocket settlement, 
being situated at a " Cross Roads," in close proximity to the 
neighboring Colonies, and easily accessible from many points, 
attracted their notice at an early day, and in 1718 the Provi- 
dence Monthly meeting was set off from the Greenwich 
Monthly meeting, and the records began at this place. 

Thus Woonsocket became, not so much from the piety 
of its inhabitants as from the natural advantages of its 
location ; first a religious and afterwards an educational cen- 
tre of the large territory now comprised within the counties 
of Worcester, Mass., and Providence, R. I. 

A patient perusal of these records, will reward one with 
much valuable material. The historian will find therein, 
when and where their meeting houses were erected at Provi- 
dence, Woonsocket, Uxbridge, Mendon, Leicester and other 
places within the "diocese " and obtain a deeper insight into 
the manners and customs of a rapidly declining sect ; the 
-f geneologist will discover many wanting links and perhaps a 
few " black sheep " in ancient families ; the patriot will learn 
that although the Quakers objected to take an active part in 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 77 

the war of the Revohition, they turned out of meeting one of 
the Rhode Island signers to the Declaration of Independence, 
for refusing to manumit his slaves*, and all will be vexed 
that the clerks of the meetings were such abominable j)en- 
men. With these records before me, I return to the meeting- 
houses : 

The Meeting-house at Woonsocket. 
The following is the Recordf : 

lOth Mo. (Decemberj O. S.) 9th, 1719. Whereas, this meeting has 
had a matter in consideration about building a meeting-house at 
Woonsoclvet, on the burying ground hitely purchased, liave concluded 
to build a meeting-house twenty feet square, and John Arnold is 
appointed to build the same, the heighth thereof left to liim. 

5th Mo., 1720. John Arnold is desired to furnish boards to seal the 
same, 

lUh Mo, 9th, 1721. John Arnold is desired to go on and finish the 
same. 

10th Mo. 10th, 1727. It is concluded by this meeting that a small 
meeting-house be built adjoining to the meeting-house at Woon- 
socket. 

4th Mo. 11th, 1728. John Arnold and Thomas Smith appointed to 
procure suitable stuff for same. 

1st Mo. 28th, 173(3. It was concluded to finish the little meeting-house. 

7th Mo. 30th, 1738. Thomas Smith and Ichabod Comstock were 
appointed to complete the work. 

The Meeting-house at Providence. 

The meeting-house now standing at this place, between 

South Court and Meeting streets, originally stood on Stamp- 

ers Hill, a fact which escaped the vigilence of Judge Staples 

in .his " Annals " of the town. The following is from the 

Records : 

4th Mo. 19th, 1724. It is concluded by this meeting, that a meeting- 
house shall be built at Providence towii. 

9th Mo. 4th, 1424. It is concluded if Edward Smith and Thomas 
Arnold appi'ove of said frame, that the money be paid to Daniel 
Abl)ot as (juick as can be. 

3d Mo. nth, 1725. It is concluded that the meeting-house at Provi- 
dence sluill be set on the Stampers Ilill. 

3d Mo. 29th, 1745. A Committee ai)i)ointed to lease out the land 
and remove the meeting-house at Providence. 

9th ]Mo. 25th, 1755. A Committee appointed to take a deed from 
Governor Hopkins, of meeting-house lot at Providence, 

2d Mo. 28th, 1760, A Comnuttee appointed to settle with the Com- 
mittee that moved and repaired the meeting-house at Providence. 

*Sec Quaker Records. Book II., paj^e 59. 

fThe lot for the Quaker Burial Grounds was purchased Dec. 19, 1719, It consisted of one 
acre, uorth of the highway, near tlic phice called tho "Dugway." 



78 HISTOEY OP WOONSOCKET. 

TJie Friends of Uxbridge, Mendon, Leicester, Freetown, 
and other places, may find upon these Woonsocket Records 
when and where their places for worship were erected. 

The meeting-houses of the Quakers increased and multi- 
plied on every hand. But there came a time when in some 
localities their meeting houses were too capacious for their 
accommodation, and iji others were deserted altogether. Just 
previous to the Revolution the Mendon meeting which had 
grown and flourished under the eloquence of Moses Aldrich, 
had dwindled to but few members. The house is now an 
out-building at the Plummer Quarry, at Northbridge. At 
AVoonsocket but ten or twelve members assembled for wor- 
ship on First day, and many of these during the intervals of 
silence fell asleep. The reason for this indifference I will 
briefly give : 

The distinguishing traits of the Friend were more the 
result of his peculiar discipline, than of a superior quality of 
his nature. While the teachers of other sects directed the 
attention of their disciples to the mysterious realms of another 
world, the Friend Avas persistently taught to watch and guard 
his footsteps amid the devious windings of his present life. 
Although professedly at war with all religious forms, he was 
the most formal of all religionists. His daily life, his speech, 
and even his dress was marked out for him with as much 
precision as the mode of worship at the Vatican. With him 
every day was the Lord''s day, and every hour an hour for 
worship. If, however, the founders of the sect liad simply 
inculcated morality in their teachings, its history would have 
been brief. But under their immediate influence and beneath 
their fervent utterances, emotions were stirred to such a 
degree, that men trembled and quaked Avith alternate ecsta- 
cies of fear and joy — thus acquiring through the ridicule of 
their enemies, their name of Quakers. Silence was their 
marked feature of worship. " Mark and consider in silence 



HISTORY OP AVOONSOCKET. 79 

and thou wilt hear the Lord speak unto thee in tliy mind."" 
To those who had been privileged to listen to George Fox, 
there was a music and an inspiration in silence, a thousand 
times more impressive than in that of the Te Deum or the 
Miserere. But when the voices of their teachers l)ccame 
silent, the Quakers became luke warm. 

It was at this time, when but "ten or twelve members 
assembled for worship at "Woonsocket on First Day, and 
many of these during the intervals of silence fell asleep," that 
ElisJia Thornton became a Quaker. It was an event which 
his old associates must have regarded with the deepest sur- 
prise, and his new ones with the profoundest gratitude. His 
temperament, tastes, and early education, all seemed to be 
in opposition to a life of self denial and formal piety. Nerv- 
ous, sensitive and timid, with a slender frame of body and a 
large heart, he had been thrown upon his own resources 
almost from infancy. The material wants of his nature, and 
the formation of his character through childhood and youth 
had been left entirely to himself. His love of Nature and 
his attachment to his friends amounted to a passion. The 
cheerful voices of Spring and the ringijig laughter of his 
comrades, were his delight, and the glad tones of his violin, 
upon which he was not an indifferent performer, were the 
delight of his youthful companions. Fully alive to mirth and 
pleasure, and keenly sensitive to ridicule and contempt, 
Elisha Thornton became a Quaker. When, in a short time 
he became an Elder in the Society, I believe that the Friends 
at Woonsocket could preserve silence during their hours of 
worship without falling asleep, for his sermons are spoken of 
as poems in blank verse, and the rhythmic manner of their 
delivery beautiful and impressive beyond description. 

Elisha Thornton was born according to his own account 
the 30th of 6th Mo. (O. S. August), 1747, according to the 
Quaker memorial the 30th of 4th Mo. (O. S. June), 1747 and 



80 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

according to the Records of the town of Smithfield the 30th 
of June 1748. His fatlier, Ebenezer Thornton, and his 
mother, Ruth Smith, were joined in marriage by " William 
Arnold of Smithfield, Esq.," Oct. 7th and 8th, 1735. 
Whether the lovers arrived at the house of the Hon. Justice 
of the Peace on the midnight of the 7th, or whether it took 
two days to perform the ceremony, the records do not say. 

At ten years of age little Elisha had received two months 
schooling and was " placed abroad " to live. At twenty- 
three he joijied the Quakers, and three years afterwards 
became an Elder in the Society. In the meantime (4th Mo. 
1st, 1773) he married Anna, daughter of John Read, and 
commenced his academy near the present village of Slaters- 
ville. His zeal in educational as in religious matters was not 
confined to these parts. Through his influence with Moses 
Brown the Friends school at Providence was inaugurated. 
At last, after spending thirty years of his life in doing good, 
receiving for his labors a scanty subsistence, and the con- 
sciousness of having done his duty, he removed to New Bed- 
ford where passed the remainder of his days. 

For tlie virtues of the good citizen and the graces of the 
consistent Christian, the Friend has ever been distinguished. 
His temperance, industry and frugality have won for him the 
envy and the respect of the tax-payer, for while he has added 
much to the wealth of tlie State, he has never asked for its 
assistance. His self denial, charity and brotherly love, have 
caused him to be inwardly admired and outwardly reproached 
by sectarians of other denominations, for while they have felt 
that the broadbrim was a symbol of morality, the}' have often 
insinuated that it covered a multitude of sins. There is but 
one act in their history to which the heart of the American 
patriot will not fully respond ; and that act was simply an 
objection to act in the v/ar of the Revolution. But that 
objection was founded on their creed, and their creed was — 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 81 

peace ! But although as a sect they were averse to warlike 
pursuits, there were many members thereof, whose religious 
scruples were overcome by their patriotism. We have a not- 
able example of this in a noble Rhode Island matron, who, I 
find by the records, was an occasional visitor to the Woon- 
socket meeting. I refer to the mother of Nathaniel Greene ! 
For upwards of a century the only public place of worship 
at Woonsocket, was in the Quaker meeting-house. When 
tlie mills were erected an immediate change took place. 
Within the short space of three years there were as many dis- 
tinct rehgious denominations at Woonsocket as there are at 
present, namely : The Quakers, the Episcopalians, organ- 
ized in 1832, the Baptists in 1833, and the Universalists, 
Congregationalists, Methodists and Roman Catholics in 1834. 
Until their sanctuaries were built, the worshippers in these 
denominations held divine services in unoccupied rooms of 
mills then in process of erection, in school-houses and in 
private residences. 

The Upiscojyaliaiis. 

St. James Parish was organized April 1, 1832. At the 

May session of the General Assembly it was incorporated. 

The petition therefor was signed by the following named 

gentlemen : 

Samuel Greeno, James Wilson, jr,, 

Josepli M. ]3nnvn, Kufus Arnold, 

Ariel Ballon, jr., Philip C. l}ryant, 

Willavd li. Jolmson. Edmnnd Haeon, 

Aaron White, jr., Edward Ilariis, 

Darius Sibley, Philip J]. Sliness, 

Thaddcns C." Bruce, John \V. lUill'uni, 

Daniel Wilkinson, Hteplien TI. Smith. 

Henry Williams, Alexandei' S. Streeter. 

Until the school-house at Bernon was erected, services 
were held in the factory at that place. 

Sept. 7, 1832. It was voted to build a meeting-house. 
11 



8'^ HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKfiT. 

May 16, 1833. The edifice was consecrated with the usual 
ceremonies. Tlie pastors have been : 

1 Joseph M. Brown, to August, 1835. 

2 Henry Waterman, " ^"ov., 1841. 

3 A. I). C!ole, " May, 1845. 

4 P. B. Talbot, " July, 1865. 

Rev. Mr. Talbot, who, in his long pastorate of twenty years, 
had endeared himself not only to the members of his flock, 
but to all with whom he came in contact, was injured by a 
stroke of lightning which descended upon the church, and 
also upon the parsonage. He never recovered from the 
shock, and died Sept. 5, 1865. With him passed away a cit- 
izen that Woonsocket could not afford to lose. He was suc- 
ceeded by 

5 Kobert Murray, who remained with us until July, 1872. 

He resigned to take a tour through Europe. As a modest, 
earnest and conscientious worker in his chosen calling, Mr. 
Murray will be held in pleasant memory by all who were 
honored with his acquaintance. He was succeeded by 

G James F. Powers, who resigned after a sliort pastorate of one 
year, to fill a larger spliere of action at Philadeli)hia, wliere liis splen- 
did oratorical powers might be more fully apjireciated. Mr. Powers 
began in September, 1872, aiid resigned July, 1873. 

7 Joseph Jj. Miller, commenced his duties at this place in Decem- 
ber, 1873, and is still witli us. 

The Universalists. 

This denomination at first held meetings from time to time 
in unfinished rooms of factories, at the Dexter Ballou school- 
house on Arnold street, and at the Social school-house. At 
these early meetings they were frequently addressed by men 
Avlio afterwards became celebrated throughout the country, 
not only for their liberal views, but also for their deep reason- 
ing powers. Among these were Father Murray, Hosea Bal- 
lou, Adin Ballou and others. The worshipj^ers in this sect 
at this place contributed largely towards the erection of the 
first Baptist meeting-house, with the understanding that they 
might be allowed to hold services therein when not interfer- 



HISTOKY OF AVOONSOCKET. 83 

ing with the regular worship at the liouse. But the Baptist 
brethren, after their meeting-house was erected, overlooJsed 
or forgot the agreement, and in 1839 the Universalists erected 
a meeting-house of their own. Oct. 18, 1834, the Society 
was organized, and Oct. 22, 1843, the C/mrcA was organized. 

Previous to the erection of their meeting-house, Christo- 
pher Robinson supplied the desk for a few months. The first 
regular clergyman of the sect was John Boyden, jr. Tlic 
first serriion of Mr. Bo3'den, which was just previous to the 
completion of the meeting-house, was at the Social school- 
house. His pastorate ended with his death, Sept. 28, 1869. 

No person has ever lived at Woonsocket who has exerted 
a greater influence in all good works, than the Rev. John 
Boyden. In the temperance, the educational, and the anti- 
slavery reforms, he was always to the front. A deeper 
thinker, and a better man never made Woonsocket his home. 
After he passed away, it was thought by many, that liis place 
could never be supplied. But the Society had the good 
fortune to secure the services of the Rev. Charles J. White, 
who, although as unlike his predecessor as it is possible for 
one to be, by his urbanity, liis kindness, and his many vir- 
tues, has endeared liimself to all witli whom he has come in 
contact. 

The Bapthts. 

Tlie meeting-house of this denomination was dedicated 
April 24, 1834. 

This edifice was burned INIay 26, 1859. The new building- 
was erected a short distance easterly of the ancient structure, 
and now stands on the corner of INlain and High streets. 
The pastors have been : 



1 


Peter Simonsen, 


from 1833 to 18:54. 


2 


Bradley Miner, 


" 1834 " 1837. 


3 


Josei)irSniith, 


" 1837 " 1841. 


4 


(Icorfje N. Waitt, 


" 1841 " 1843. 


") 


])aiiiel Cui'tis, 


" 1843 " — 





Jos. J3, Damon, 


" 1843 " 1845. 



84 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

7 Kaslett Armine, from 1845 to 1847. 

8 Luther D. Hill, " 1847 " 1851. 

9 Joseph B. Breed, " 1852 " 1858. 

10 John Jennings, " 1859 " 1863. 

11 James W. Bonham, " 1863 *' 1864. 

12 John D. Sweet, " 1865 " 1866. 

13 Denzel M. Crane, " 1866 " 1867. 

14 Sullivan L.Holman," 1867 " 1873. 

15 Frederic Denison, " 1873 " 1876. 

The Society is at present without a settled pastor. 
The Roman Catholics. 

About the year 1834 Rev. James Fitten began his labors 
at this place as missionary. Services were held at first in 
private dwellings. In 1841 Mr. Reul Smith yielded a hall 
in the Woonsocket Hotel to the Society for religious wor- 
ship. An anecdote at this point is worth preserving, which 
will feebly illustrate the wit and the delicacy of feeling of 
the landlady : On a certain occasion this hall had been let 
to a dancing party, who had beautifully decorated it with 
evergreens, weaving with the fragrant boughs, and suspend- 
ing in a conspicuous place, the following motto : " A time 
to dance!" As the time for the religious services drew 
near, Mrs. Smith, with the evergreens that composed the 
word " dance," substituted another word, and made the 
motto to read, " A time to pray!" — thus, by a very simple 
and kindly act, not only transforming a house of mirth into 
a temple of worship, but even making the hands of the pro- 
fane to quicken the emotions of the devout. 

About this time subscriptions began to be received towards 
the erection of a meeting-house. Towards this Mr. AVcl- 
come Farnum contributed the sum of $300. The house was 
completed in December, 1844, and with the lot cost -12,000. 
In June, 1862, began the movement towards the erection 
of the beautiful and substantial structure which now adorns 
the site of the Avooden building. This was completed in 



HTSTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 



85 



1867. During' this year the old edifice was destroyed by 
fire. The pastors have been : 

1 James Fitten, to November, 184G. 

2 Charles O'lleilley, to February, 1852. 

3 Hugh Carmody, "to February, 1854. 

4 John Brucly, to April, 1855. 

5 M. McCabe, to February, 1856. 

6 F. J, Lenihan, to August, 1807. 

7 B. O. Reillev, to , 1809. 

8 M. McCabe returned February 2, 1809, 

and is the present pastor. 

The above were assisted, from time to time, by the follow- 
ing clergymen : 



Peter Egan, in 1853. 
Lawrence Walsh, in 1800. 
A. Princen, in 1807. 
F. Belanger, in 1808 and 1809. 



John Kelley, in 1809. 
Austin D. l^ernard, in 1870. 
J. A. Finniffan, in 1872. 



The edifice of the French Catholics, on the Bernon side 
of the river, was erected in 1874. This was blown down 
by the great gale of February 2, 1876. 

The 3Iethodlsts. 

This society was started here about the year 1834. The 
land for the meeting-house was purchased May 9, 1836, and 
the edifice erected during the year. The trustees of the 
church at that time were — William Holmes, George Aldrich 
(3d), John Irwin, Elijah H. Sherman, Stephen R. Fielding, 
Hardin Hopkins and Hanson Arnold. The pastors have 
been : 



1 Wells Walcott, 1834. 

2 Hiram Cummings, 1835-1830. 

3 Daniel K. JJannister, 1S37-1838. 

4 Richard Livesev, 1839-1840. 

5 Apolos Hall, 1841. 

Ebenezer Blake, 1842. 

7 Hebron Vincent, 1843 (1 mo.). 

8 Cyrus C. Hunger. 1843. 

9 S. W. Coggeshall, 1844-1845. 

10 Warren Emerson, 1840-1847. 

11 Charles H. Titus, 184fvl849. 

12 George H. Wooding, 1850. 

13 John Lovejoy, 1851-1852. 

14 Philip Crandon, 185:3-1854. 



15 George C. Bancroft, 1855-1856. 
10 E. B. Bradford. 1857-1858. 

17 William Livesev, 1859-1800. 

18 Thomas Elv, 1801. 

19 Havid H. Ela, 1802-1863. 

20 J. W. Willett, 1804-1805. 

21 Edward A. Lvon, lS(i(i-]S07. 

22 Edward H. Hatlield, lS(iS-]S(i9. 

23 W. McKendrce Bray, 1870-1871. 

24 Charles Nason, 1872. 

25 Nathan G. Axtell, 1873-1874. 

20 J. E. Hawkins began his labors 
April, 1875, and is the present 
pastor. 



86 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

TJi e Congregationalism. 

This Society was organized at this place December 24, 
1834. Services were held at Dexter Ballou School-house, 
at Aunt Delpha Warren's, and at other places until June, 
1843, when the meeting-house was erected at the Globe 
Village. The pastors have been : 

1. E. P. Iiigersoll iintil October 13, 1835. From then mitil Febru- 
ary 14, 1841, the Society was without a pastoi", and held no public 
services. At this time Rev. Seth Cliapin came here and acted as a 
missionary, preaching at "Aunt Delplia's." 

2. Edwin Leigli was ordained at the time of tlie dedication of tlie 
meeting-house, and preached until May 22, 1844. 

3. James M. Davis supplied the desk for some time, and June 10, 
1845, became the settled minister. He remainetl until September, 
1851. During his pastorate a member of the church was excom- 
municated for the crime of adultery. The Congregational Church 
has learned how not to do such things since then. 

4. William W. Belden began his ministration March 9, 1851, and 
retired August 4, 1852. 

5. Levi Packard began ISTovember 12, 1853. His health failing, he 
was allowed to resign in October, 1855. 

6. After an interregnum of about two years, on tlie 19th of July, 
1857, Eev. Theo. Cooke began his labors at this place. He was a 
gentleman, a scholar, and a good man. He was universally loved 
and respected by all Avho came within the circle of his acquaintance. 

7. James E. Dockray began August 1, 1867. Of the Bcv. Mr. Dock- 
ray, the least said the better. 

8. H. E. Johnson succeeded Dockray. He was a modest and un- 
assuming gentleman, and highly esteemed by all with whom he came 
in contact. 

9. W. S. Stockbridge came June 27, 1873, and went July 1, 1874. 

10. B. E. Parsons began ]Srovember 15, 1874, and is the present 
pastor. He officiates alternately at Globe Meeting-house and Plj^- 
mouth Chapel. 

In 1867 a movement was started, which resulted in the 

erection of a chapel on Spring street. It is known as the 

Plymouth Chapel. Over the congregation at this place 

Rev. Mr. Douglass was called to preside. After a short 

pastorate, Mr. Douglass resigned and went West. 



CHAPTER VII. 

EDUCATION. 

This chapter has rather a pretentious title, but the reader 
need have no apprehension that he will be taken into waters 
beyond his depth. He will not be called upon to brush the 
dust from his Greek Lexicon, or to revive his acquaintance 
with his old friend Horace. It will be a sufficient exercise 
of his memory if he recalls some of the floggings which he 
received and merited in his school days, and a satisfactory 
tax ot his mental powers, if he takes the trouble to read my 
simple narrative. 

Those who have made Woonsocket what she is, have been 
plain and practical men. They have been to much occupied 
in subduing the wilderness, in building mills and in earning 
a living, to consume much time in discussing Greek verbs, or 
in quarrelling over Latin idioms. But in the midst of their 
labors, they have not lost sight of the duty which they owe 
to their children and their country, and have contributed 
largely to the cause of education. 

The Quakers, from Avhom flow nearly all of the good and 
perfect gifts in the early history of Rhode Island, after erect- 
ing their meeting-houses proceeded to establish schools in 
various localities. I quote the following from their records : 

0th mo., 1771. It is thought necessary yt poor children be schooled. 

4tli 1110., 1777. Moses Farnuni, Moses ]?rown, Thomas Lajiham, 
Job Scott, Elisha Thornton, Sanuiel Aldricli, George Arnold, Ante- 
past Earle and David Steero are appointed to draw up a plan U)v 
establishing a free school among Friends. 



88 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The following sixth month, the committee presented their 
report to the meeting, recommending : 

1. That the donation of Kachel Thayer be appropriated towards the 
support of a school. 

2. That subscriptions be received at each preparative meeting. 

3. That a teacher be procured at once. 

4. Tliat a committee of judicious Friends be appointed, their duties 
to be — 1, To select a place or places for the school from time to time; 
2, to agree with teachers; 3, to inspect the ]ioorer sort of Friends' 
families, to determine who shall be schooled from the fund; 4, to 
raise and forward subscriptions; 5, to make rules and regulations; 6, 
to receive the income of the Rachel Thayer donation; 7, to act and 
transact all other matters and things belonging to the school. 

The meeting accepted the report, and appointed the fol- 
lowing-named persons as probably the first School Committee 
of Northern Rhode Island : 

Thomas Stcere, Moses Farnum, David Steere, Moses Brown, 
Ezekiel Comstock, Benjamin Arnold, llufus Smith, Daniel Cass, 
George Smith, Samuel Aldrich, Gardner Earle, David Buffum and 
Thomas Lapham, jr. 

The philanthropical zeal of the Quakers awoke such an 
interest in educational matters, that measures were taken at 
the beginning of the present century to establish a school 
which should be free to all. This was partially accom- 
plished, but was finally defeated by those for whom it was 
designed. By a vote of the ignorant backwoodsmen of 
Smithfield, many of whom were unable to write their names, 
the first Free School in these regions was brought to an end. 
In the years 1800 and 180], the town of Smithfield appro- 
priated $2,200 for free schools. This was divided among 
twenty-four schools. At the August town meeting of 1802 
a similar sum was voted, and at a special meeting in Sep- 
tember the vote was " repealed." Is it strange that the 
same intelligent freemen should have "vandued" the poor 
of the town to the lowest bidder, and have rejected the con- 
stitution of the United States by a vote of 159 to 2.* 

*R. I. Col. Rec, Vol. X., page 275, say 158 to 2. But the records of the town of Smithfield 
say as above. 



HISTORY OP WOONSOCKET. 89 

But by the efforts of the women in these parts, a Free 
School was finally successfully inaugurated, and the enter- 
prise continued for several years, A public library was also 
in existence at Woonsockct during the first thirty years of 
the present centur^^ About the same time a library was 
established in Northern Cumberland. It was known as the 
" Social Library." But the private schools of Woonsocket 
in the last generation are all that it is worth while to say 
much about. 

A short time previous to the Revolution, a young man of 
studious habits and amiable disposition became a citizen of 
this part of the world. From a natural impulse to benefit 
his fellow-men, and for the purpose of earning a living, ho 
devoted a large portion of his time and of his dwelling-house 
to the cause of education. lie liad an ample field before 
him, for the ignorance of the inhabitants of Smithfield at 
that time was onl}^ equalled by their narrow-mindedness. 
The language and the penmanship which recorded their 
highways, as well as the highways themselves, were an 
abomination in the sight of the Lord. The poor immigrant 
was treated as a criminal, and invariably ordered out of the 
town. If he returned, it would then be voted that the 
" transhunt person" either be whipped or " suffer corporal 
punishment by being fined," or allowed to " remane," pro- 
vided he behave "liisself." I find the following "prescrip- 
tions " among the papers of a celebrated pliysician of those 
days : 

" .Jonathiin should wasli and liold liis feet some time in warm 
water; then bleed, then put on the plaster on his feet, go to bed 
with the bed warmed; also witli a blister plaster on the back side of 
his neck, and when the blister is near don running, then take the 
pills, two of them just before bed, about as big as a niiddleing pee, if 
they work hve times once in three nights; and if it doth not work 
much every other night. Also, steep burdock rotes, biter sweet 
rotes and lovage— steep them for a drink. So when gone threw with, 
then gow a short voiage to see." 
12 



90 HISTORY OF WOOXSOCKET. 

I have been luiable to ascertain whether or not Jonathan 
went to " see." Next comes a " siirrop " for the Rickets : 

"One gil of easworms, petemorel rotes; one handful of rock leather, 
low polepode rotes; Solomon's seal rotes, learge polepoue rotes, cune- 
fry rotes, hemlock bark from the rote on the north side of the tree," 
etc. 

Bnt they, who are most in need of education, appreciate it 
least. Elisha Thornton, who was the young teacher to whom 
I have referred, would have starved had he depended solely 
upon the patronage of his neighbors. Nay, his very mental 
attainments caused him to be regarded with suspicion and 
dread. His telescope and his globe, by which he illustrated 
the grand harmony of the universe, aroused the superstitious 
fears of the ignorant boors in the vicinity to such an extent, 
that they expostulated with him for teaching the " black 
art." The Thornton Academy was located near the present 
village of Slatersville. The fame of this school was as ex- 
tensive as it was well deserved, and pupils came from distant 
regions to be mentally and morally enlightened by the great 
and good man who presided over it. Among these was John 
Osborne, who came from New Hampshire, and afterwards 
made V/oonsocket his home. The sterling virtues of this 
man are too well remembered to this day to require other 
than a passing allusion to him from my hands. Elisha 
Thornton was at the head of this school for thirty years, 
the existence of which was terminated about the beginning 
of the present century, by the removal of its principal to 
New Bedford. 

About this time schools were started in various places 
hereabouts. The inhabitants of " neighborhoods " united, 
built school-houses, and employed teachers from time to time. 
The L of Deacon Stephen Hendrick's house at Union Vil- 
lage, wdiat is now a barn on the Brownell estate, and what is 
now the wood-house of Elisha Read, were once temples of 
knowledge. A school-house was where now stands the 



HISTORY OF AV^OONSOCKET. 91 

blacksmith shop of Proctor Brothers, at the Globe, and 
another was located at the "Daily Hole." In addition to 
these, the father of Otis Bartlett procured students from 
Brown University to teach at his house, admitting the chil- 
dren of his neighbors to share his liberality. Although some 
of the teachers in these institutions were — to use the lan- 
guage of a pupil in one of them — too stupid to get a living 
by any other means, still the}^ kept the people from lapsing 
into barbarism. 

This brings me to a point in my narrative, where I am 
permitted to speak of an institution of learning which had 
its seat among the inhabitants of these regions, and which 
they have reason to remember with peculiar pride and satis- 
faction — whose facilities for teaching and illustrating the 
various b]-anches of science were at one time beyond that of 
any academy in New England ; whose cabinet of minerals 
and chemical and philosophical apparatus were equal to 
those of Brown University ; among whose teachers have 
been men, well known in after life to fame and honor; and 
among whose pupils are many who have become justly cele- 
brated in science, art and literature — I refer to the Smith- 
field Academy. 

The movement to erect the building was started about the 
year 1810. The method of raising funds for the enterprise 
was by a lottery. The first class resulted in failure. The 
second class, started by George Aldrich and others, was more 
successful, but the money tlius raised was insufficient to com- 
plete the work, and the balance was finally adjusted by Joel 
Aldrich. The building eventuall}" became his private prop- 
erty, but he leased the same at a nominal figure. 

The building was erected in 1811, and in the Autumn of 
that year, David Aldrich, the son of Joel, became tlic first 
teacher therein. This man is spoken of as a deep student 
and a successfid teaclier. He died in 1814. Fronx then 



92 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

until 1830 there was no permanent teacher therein. Spindle- 
shanked pedagogues, and soft-haired students — pedants and 
coxcombs tried their hands in the teaching line, sometimes 
successfully and sometimes not. Among the successful 
teachers were John Thornton, a son of Elisha, George D. 
Prentice, afterwards of the Louisville Journal, and Christo- 
pher Robinson. Of the unsuccessful teachers nothing need 
be said. 

In the Fall of 1830, James Bushee commenced his labors 
therein, which continued until 1853, Avhen the career of the 
institution was brought to an end. The building has since 
been removed. A beautiful grove of linden trees, planted 
by the last teacher within its honored walls, is all tliat now 
remains to mark its ancient site. 

An institution of learning had its seat at Cumberland Hill 
during the first part of the present century, which demands 
a passing notice. It was called the Cumherland Academij. 
This, like its sister on the opposite side of the river, was 
favored with teachers who left the marks of their labors upon 
the hearts, the minds, and sometimes the backs of their 
pupils. 

Among its numerous teachers I find the names of Dr. 
Ariel Ballon and Ira B. Peck, Esq., who about' fifty years ago 
presided therein. 

To the former gentleman Woonsocket is largely indebted 
for the active interest which he has always taken in the 
promotion of all good works. As a leader and counseller in 
educational matters, a stern and inflexible advocate of needed 
improvements, and of honesty and economy in the adminis- 
tration of town. State and national affairs, his name will be 
long held in grateful remembrance. 

Mr. Peck is more retiring in his habits. He seldom if ever 
mingles in the turbulent arena of politics. He seems to be 
content that others should lead in social and educational 



HISTORY OF AYOONSOCKET. 93 

matters. But he is far from being" iiidiiferent to true pro- 
gress and reform. To those wlio know him best his lieart 
and his intellect are fully alive to the problems of the hour. 
His influence in promoting the industrial and the moral 
growth of the village has been silent, but it has been power- 
ful. Like most men of this kind, he is best known outside of 
his immediate neighborhood. As an antiquarian and geneol- 
ogist he ranks among the first of New England. To him I 
am most deeply indebted for material of Avhich this work is 
composed. He has given to the world a most valuable pro- 
duction in his geneology of the Peck family, and is now 
engaged upon an account of the Ballon family, which aside 
from its family record Avill contain matters of interest to every 
student of Rhode Island liistor}-. 

Among the pupils at the Cumberland Academy, was Thos. 
A. Jenckes. His career is too well known throughout the 
country for me to say other than as a boy, he was never a 
boy. He was Thomas A. Jenckes, Esq., always. Dr. Bal- 
lon, who M'as one of his teachers, describes him as the most 
thoughtful boy whom he ever knew, and that in time^i of 
seeming idleness and indifference his mind was always at 
work. 

Willis Cook and his brother, Lyman A., were also pupils 
at this institution. Of these distinguished Woonsocket citi- 
zens I shall have much to say further on. 

At last the people began to awaken to the fact, that a free 
school is one of the necessities of a free country, and to take 
measures to place the advantages of education within the 
reach of all. 

The present tOAvn of Woonsocket was made of two school 
districts of old Smithfield, and six school districts of old 
Cumberland. 

When about half a century ago these districts were formed, 
the inhabitants were but a step above barbarism. INIany of 



94 HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 

tlie school committee were rude in manner and in speech, 
and many of the pupils were so vulgar, uncouth and savage, 
that one of the chief requisites of a successful teacher was a 
good muscular development, in order to keep his school 
within the limits of common decency. The discipline of these 
ancient institutions may be inferred from the fact, that the 
capacious spitboxes which polluted many of the school-houses 
were inadequate to contain the floods of tobacco juice which 
would run down and stand in pools in the centre of the 
rooms. 

The Smithfield districts were the Globe and the Bernon. 
The first public school-house in the Globe District was built 
about the year 1841. Up to 1858 the school was supported 
in this building chiefly from tlie fund distributed by the 
State. It was therefore limited to a short Summer and a 
somewhat longer Winter term. At this time the progressive 
men in the district succeeded in aAvakening the publi(3 mind 
to such an extent, that an appropriation was made and a 
teacher engaged at a salary of $500 per annum. The old 
house has recently been abandoned. The new school-house 
on Providence street was dedicated April 22, 1875, with 
appropriate exercises. 

The Bernon district has not until this year been the pro- 
prietor of a school-house. A beautiful and substantial brick 
edifice now crowns one of the hills of this locality. It will 
be ready for the reception of pupils at the beginning of the 
Fall term. Although the district has not owned a house it 
has not gone far behind its sister districts in educational 
facilities. Since 1832 it has leased a building of the Woon- 
socket Company, in which schools have been kept that have 
been an honor to the town. In fact at one time the Bei'non 
district was the banner district of Woonsocket. 

The Cumberland portion of Woonsocket, comprises what 
is now the educational as well as the business centre of the 
town, and deserves an extended notice. 



HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 95 

111 tJio year 1828, tlic town of Cuml)erland was divided into 
sixteen school districts. Three of these districts, which were 
afterwards increased to six, comprise the Comberland por- 
tion of tlie town of Woonsocket. 

District No. 1, comprised what was tlien called tlie village 
of Woonsocket, which was the region extending from the 
" Falls " to the " Social." 

District No. 2, comprised the "Social " and Jenckesville. 

District No. 3, comprised what is now known as the 
" Union " district. 

There Avere no " Trustees " in those days. The school 
committee was composed of a man from each district who 
performed the duties that were afterwards assigned to Trus- 
tees. 

At the first meeting of the school committee, the Jenckes- 
ville portion of district No. 2, was set off therefrom and 
designated No. 17. At the same session the money received 
from the State was apportioned as follows : One-half equally 
among the several districts, and the remainder according to 
the number of pupils. The following table will show the 
sums received by the Woonsocket districts at that time, and 
other matters which may be of interest : 

Districts. Committeo. 

1 Dexter Ballon, 

2 Smith Arnold, 

3 Keuben ])arlin.L!: 
17 Nelson Arnold, 

In August, 1838, a new district was formed from No. 1, 
and desiunated No. 19. 



Pupils. 


Moiipy. 


198 


S;7!18:', 


70 


48.74 


81 


40.84 


74 


44.80 



Districts. Committee. 


Pupils. 


Monej-. 


1 Eli Pond, 


I!t4 


$110.7!) 


1!) Ariel Ballon, 


11.") 


10().:i7 


•2 Melville Kiia])]), 


;;()4 


IT);;. 04 


:] AVelconie Cook, 


82 


79.27 


17 Albert Jeuckes, 


75 


7(5.92 



96 HiSTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

• July 8, 1839. It was voted by the School Committee 

that 

" xVn Examening Coimnitcche appomted to consist of five, who shall 
examine all teachers in the branches of reading, writing, arithmetic, 
English grammer and geography, who shall apply to them for exam- 
cnation, and that said Commitee shall give to each, as by them shall 
be thought qualified, a certificate of approbation, and no teacher shall 
be entitletl to jiay v.nUll they obtain a certificate, and that Ariel 
Ballon, Benjamin .Fessenden, Fenner Brown and Arnold W. Jenckes 
be said Committee. The Secretary was Fenner Brown." 

January 13, 1840. It was reported that district No. 2 had 
no school-house and no public property ; that there was a 
house owned l)y private parties which had been used for 
school purposes, but that it was too small for the accommo- 
dation of all the pupils. 

June 8, 1840. , It was voted in town meeting that the 
Examining Committee sliall consist of three persons, and be 
paid one dollar for the examination of schools and teachers, 
provided that they shall l)e engaged one-lialf a day. 

At the meeting of the School Committee on January 13, 
1840, a nevv^ district was formed from No. 2 (making the 
second division of this district) and named No. 20. This 
completes the six Woonsocket districts. I will now give a 
tabular statement of schools at Woonsocket, from 1840 to 
1845 inclusive. 





1840. 






Districts 


Committee. 


Pupils. 


Mone}-. 


1 


Abner Rawson, 


183 


$121.00 


10 


Ariel Ballon, 


1(10 


113.28 


2 


James M. Cooke, 


152 


110..5() 


20 


Joseph Smith, 


184 


121.44 


?, 


Olney Burlingame, 


. <!7 


81.00 


17 


George Jenckes, 
1841. 


81 


80.42 


1 


Abner Bawson, 


187 


137.79 


1!) 


L. A. C;ook, 


183 


13(5.24 


2 


John Boyden, jr.. 


130 


110.31 


20 


Linus M. Harris, 


125 


113.01 


3 


Jonathan Sweet, 


68 


91.08 


17 


Kelson Jenckes, 


87 


98.20 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 97 





1842. 






Districts. 


Committee'. ] 


Pupils. 


Miiiioy. 


1 


Barton Daiiiiip:. 


187 


.$1:55.89 


li) 


George X. W;iitt, 


183 


l:',5.()() 


2 


John Jiovden, jr-, 


139 


117.81 


20 


8eth L. Weld, 


189 


130.. 57 


'•> 


Olney Bnrlino-ame, 


, 75 


93.01 


17 


Nelson Jenckes, 
1843. 


90 


99.40 


1 


Barton Darling, 


183 


143.80 


19 


Dan. King, 


182 


143.40 


2 


John Boyden, jr., 


145 


128.60 


20 


John A. Corey, 


201 


150.89 


3 


Charles Smith, 


83 


104.15 


17 


Nelson Jenckes, 
1844. 


86 


105.40 


1 


John Bartlett, jr., 


233 


182.42 


It) 


Aaron Rathl)un, 


1()8 


153.52 


9 


John Boyden, jr., 


1(50 


149.97 


20 


John B. "Tallman, 


210 


172.19 


;5 


Welcome Cook, 


81 


114.85 


17 


Nelson Jenckes, 
184.5. 


80 


114.41 


1 


B. E. Borden, 


250 


207.92 


19 


Ai'iel Ballon, 


171 


107.97 


2 


John Boyden, jr.. 


171 


l(i7.97 


20 


John B. Tallmim, 


257 


208.39 


3 


Welcome Cook, 


09 


120.03 


17 


Nelson Jenckes, 


81 


125.67 



During this year the act was passed authorizing the several 
districts to elect a Clerk, Treasurer and three Trustees. 

June 8, 184G, the school committee met at the inn of 
E. L. Cook, and organized under the new law. The Presi- 
dent was Dr. Ariel Ballou, the Secretary was John Boyden. 

Friday, November 30, 1849, the electors of Districts 1, 19, 
2 and 20 met for the purpose of organizing these four dis- 
tricts into one, which has since been known as the " Con- 
solidated District." The movement to this end was started 
in 1846. The school officers of this consolidation in 1849 
were : 

John Boyden, Moderator. Christr. Robinson, i 

Olney Arnold, Clerk. ]}etlmel A. >Slocunib, [ Trustees. 

Elijah B. Newell, Treasurer. lloljcrt Blake, ) 

1o 
O 



98 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The pupils, etc., were as follows: 

Districts. Average Attendance. Moncr. 

1] SI 3-4 !?244 48 

^^ I Consolidated ^^^- -^^ ^^ 

20j lis 27G 07 

17 Jenckesville 24 130 09 

3 Union 35 1-2 152 88 

This consolidation was a great victory for the friends of 
education, for thereby the schools could be graded and a 
High School established. The High School building was in 
process of erection during the years 1848-9. It was built 
on land kindly given to the district by the Hon. Edward 
Harris, and cost about -$8,000. The District has been 
favored with donations from two other liberal-minded per- 
sons, namely — Dexter Ballon, who bequeathed fifteen shares 
of Providence & Worcester Railroad stock to the " second- 
aiy " or Grammar School of Woonsocket : and Mrs. Rachel 
F. Harris, who gave the district thirty shares of the same 
stock. The " High School house " was destroyed by fire on 
the morning of October IG, 1875. A new and more sub- 
stantial edifice is now being erected on the site of the old 
building from plans drawn by William R. Walker, of Provi- 
dence. The builder is Hon. Nathaniel Elliott. It will cost 
Sfe25,3o0. 

Among those who have labored earnestly and wisely for 
the advancement of popular education at Woonsocket, I 
think that I may safely allude to Rev. John Boyden without 
awakening a feeling of jealousy in a single breast. His 
name first appears in 1811, and for a quarter of a century it 
continued to adorn the school records. The veneration and 
respect with which his memory is held at the present day is 
a sufficient evidence of his zeal and philanthropy. 

A movement is now on foot to consolidate all of the dis- 
tricts of the toAvn. That this may be consummated at an 
early day, is the earnest wish of every true friend of educa- 
tional progress. 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCIvET. 99 

Aside from its piil)lic scliools, the town enjoys tlie nse of 
a magnificent building through the munificence of the late 
Edward Harris. Here the Woonsocket Lyceum holds its 
meetings, a public reading-room is daily visited, and a large 
and well-selected library is opened to all. A portion of this 
library was originally a distinct organization, and named in 
honor of its most liberal benefactor, Mr. Edward Carrington. 
This Avas afterwards annexed to a library founded and en- 
dowed by Edward Harris, and the whole now bears the 
name of the " Harris Institute Library." 

Since the inauguration of the public school system, a great 
advance has been made in educational matters. The rude 
and poorly-constructed school-house has been supplanted by 
the well-arranged and elegant edifice ; the race of peda- 
gogues has become extinct, and the pupils have been 
brought within the restraints of civilization b}- means more 
effectual than the ancient birch. This advance has had its 
effect upon society. Literature and art have come up to a 
higher plane, in order to keep pace with the requirements of 
the age. The daily newspaper is now the guest of nearly 
every household. The music of Strauss has driven out the 
noisy jigs of our ancestors, and the squeaking fiddle has lost 
its olden charms. Whether our youngsters are letter that 
they appear to be wiser, or whether the softening influences 
of culture and refinement have tended to make society more 
virtuous and more patriotic, I shall not stop to discuss. I 
have only to say, in conclusion, that Woonsocket has reason 
to congratulate herself for the mite which she has contri- 
buted during the last century for the cause of education, 
and to feel that she has fairly earned the applause of the 
Christian, tlie philanthropist and the patriot! 



CHAPTER VIII. 

WAll. 

Although Woonsocket was a Quaker settlement, it was 
not exempt from warlike experiences and preparations. In- 
deed, it was first settled when King Philip and his tribe 
were engaged in their revengeful struggle, and its first set- 
tlers were honored with military titles — one being " Capt." 
Richard Arnold, and the other being " Ensign " Samuel 
Comstock.*' Whether or not any outrages were committed 
in this immediate vicinity at that time I have been unable to 
ascertain ;f but tradition speaks of a skirmish which took 
place between the whites and Indians a sliort distance from 
the " Daily Hole Woods." 

During subsequent Indian troubles in these regions, the 
garrison was erected on the summit of "Fort Hill, some 
twenty rods north-east of the Arioch Comstock house, in 
which families sheltered themselves and their flocks in time 
of M^ar, and to which they nightly drove their flocks, and set 
watch to protect them from incursions from the Indians. "J 
It was also during this period that the following military 
company was in existence : 



*Aiigust 9, 1710, Captain Samuel Comstock ordered Henry Mowry, of the 2d Company, to 
impress men to go with him to Port Eoyal. 

fOn the estate now owned by Staflbrd Mann, Esq., a few miles south from here, two houses 
were destroyed by King Philip in his northward march. One of these was occupied by a 
man by the name of Fox, a wearer. When, many years ago, an out-building to the Mann 
house was being erected, traces of the flre-place to one of these houses were discovered. 

JFrom ancient MSS. kindly loaned me by Miss Esther Osborne. 



IITSTOllY OF AVOONSOCKET. 



101 



Capt. Jonathan ^Slowry, 

Lieut. Ananias ]\[owvy. 

Ensign Thomas .Vrnohl, 

Clerk Samuel Aklrich, 

Surgeon John Pliillijis, 

" Xathanit'l Stai)les, 
" Aaron llcrcnden, 

Sergeant Henry Blaekmore, 
"" Richard Sayles, jr., 
" Thomas Herenden, 
" John Sayles, jr.. 

Corporal John Harris, 

" Obadiah Herenden, 

Elisha Mowry, 

John Melavory, 

Francis Herenden, 

Thomas Walling, 

]Moses Arnold, - 

William Bates, 

John Mann, 

Joshua Phillips, 

Ezekial Goldtlnvaite, 

Ebenezer Thornton, 

Jos. Arnold, jr., 

John Mowry, minor, 

William Colnstock, 

John Smith, 

Ichabod Comstock, 

John Pliillips, 

Daniel Phillips, 

Stephen Sly, 

Jabez ]]rown, 

Edward Bisnap, 

Edmund Arnold, 

Thomas La])ham, 

Israel Wilkinson, 

Philip Logee, 

Anthony ('onistock, 

Elisha Arnold, 

[N'oali Herenden, 

Amos Sprague, 

Jos, Cooke, jr., 

Daniel Sayles, 

Gideon Comstock, 

Benjamin Thompson, 

ISTatlianiel ]Mann, 

Moses ^lanii, 

Samuel Cook, 

Daniel Arnold, jr., 

Thomas Beedk', 

Jolm Blackman, jr., 

Elisha j)illingliam, 

George Wilbour, 

Thomas Crulf, 

Thomas Crufl', jr., 



Bichard Sayles, jr., 
Joseph ]>uft"um, 
Benjamin Paine, 
Oliver Mann, 
Andrew Mann, 
Ebenezer Howard, 
Ezekiel ISIowry, 
Stephen Inman, 
John Knox, 
Seth Cooke, 
John Comstock, 
John Aldrich, minor, 
John Aldrich, jr., 
Samuel Sprague, 
Samuel Bassett, 
Jeremiah Brown, 
Samuel Tucker, 
^\bel Inman, 
John Mann, jr., 
Sylvanus Sayles, 
Richard Aldrich, 
Enoch Arnold, 
]3enjaniin Butfum, jr., 
Nathan Paine, 
Benjamin Buxton, 
Jeremiah Ballard, 
Daniel Mann, jr., 
James AVeatherhead, 
Daniel Cass, 
Joseph Hicks, 
James Buxton, 
Jonathan Arnold, 
Daniel Sprague, 
Caleb Callom, 
Job Phillips, 
Peter Cooke, 
Roger Darl)ey, 
v,Tose])h Laphavn, 
Ezekial Savles, 
Daniel AV ailing, 
Benjamin Cot)ke, 
Hezadiah Comstock, jr. 
Uriah Arnold, 
Samuel Goldtlnvaite, 
.lames ]?assett, 
Tlieojiliilus Blackman, 
J)aniel Comstock, jr., 
John Harris, 
lUchard Snencer, 
Henry xVlflrich, 
Elij;-.li Aldrich, 
Samuel Fisk, 
Nathan Staples, 
Richard Arnold, jr. 



102 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The above company was a " home guard," but in looking 
through the records of ohl Smithfiekl, I find that two mem- 
bers of this company subsequently enlisted in the regular 
army and died at Cape Breton. These two were Caleb Cal- 
lom and Jabez Brown. The former died at the place men- 
tioned in January, 1746, and the latter about that time. I 
also find the names of two others who lost their lives in this 
conflict, namely ! Richard Lewis, died sometime during the 
year, and Eleizer Arnold, who died Oct. 26, 1746. 

2. The next war was that which is spoken of as the 

" Old French War." In this conflict Elkanah Speare was 

Lieutenant in one of the Rhode Island regiments. This man 

was the husband of Daniel Arnold's granddaughter, and the 

grandfather of Arnold Speare, to whose virtues many of our 

citizens Avill bear willing testimony. The following despatch 

from Col. Samuel Angell tells its own sad story : 

CA3ir Fort Edward, ) 
July 22, 1757. ) 
Mtstress Speare: 

AVith reluctance, I give you the following: account: On the 11th 
inst. your husband died, after a few days illness, of the small pox. 
His clothing and other tliino's I have had inventoried and shall ship 
them round to Providence by the first opportunity. 

From Your Friend, SAMUEL AXGELL. 

I find on the Smithfiekl records an allusion to one other 

victim of this struggle. It is to the father of Thomas Newman 

who enlisted a,nd afterwards died in His Majesty's service. 

This Thomas Newman, who July 7, 1760, was sixteen 3^ears 

of age, was the grandfather of j\Ir. Benjamin B. Newman, 

now a thrifty farmer in the vicinity of Albion, R. I. 

3. In the war of the Revolution but few of tlie inhabit- 
ants of these parts were active workers. Their conscien- 
tious scruples prevented them from being ardent patriots. 
The records of the Quaker society at this place, and those of 
the town of Smithfield, show that many were deprived of 
official positions in consequence of their lukewarmness. 
AmouQ- these I find the name of Arnold Paine, the grandson 



iriSTOUY OF WOONSOCKET. 103 

of John Arnold, from Avliom the office of Town Treasurer 
was taken in November 177G, for refusing to sign the " Test 
Act." But the freemen of the town could not long afford to 
dispense with the services of so honest and able a man, and 
in 1779 he was elected to the Town Council, in which he 
acted for many years. jMany others, who, during these 
exciting times were regarded Avith unnecessary suspicion, 
both before and after the w^ar, were honored with the respect 
and confidence of their fellow townsmen. 

But there was one citizen of these parts whose patriotic 
zeal was equal to the emergency, and whose eminent abilities 
were appreciated not only in his immediate neighborhood, 
but in the councils of the nation. I refer to Judge Peleg 
Arnold, to whom reference has been made in a preceding 
chapter. In spite of the atmosphere of his surroundings, and 
of the averseness of the major part of the inhabitants to war- 
like preparations, the news from Lexington and Concord 
aroused his indignation, and with ail the enthusiasm of his 
nature, in the Spring of 1775 he began the work of recruit- 
ing soldiers for the coming struggle. At a town meeting- 
held at his liouse, June 26, 1775, a committee Avas chosen to 
select " one hundred fire arms at once and put them in proper 
shape fit for battle." One-third to be lodged at the dwelling 
house of Capt. Joseph Jenckes, one-third at the house of 
Col. Elisha Mowry and the remainder at the house of Peleg 
Arnold. In 1780 he was chosen Lieutenant Colonel of the 
2d battallion of Providence County. In 178G he was elected 
delegate to Congress and was continued four years in tlie 
position, \n 1790 he was chosen Assistant Governor of tlie 
State. 

I select at random the folloAving items of Revolutionary 
interest from the records of the town of Smithfield* : 



*AmoiiL; some uucicut papers I lind the following letter which in these centenuial times 
may be tliougbt worth preserving: 



104 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Sept. 10, 177fl It was voted to raise thirty-nine meii to march to 
Newport. JNIen well accoutred to receive a bounty of 48 shillings, 
and men without arms SO shillings. 

June 1, 1778. Soldiers received a bounty from the town of £35, and 
from the State of £20. They were furnished with a uniform coat, 2 
waist-coats, 2 ])airs Ijreeches, 3 shirts, 3 pairs stockings, 2 pairs shoes, 
1 hunting shirt and 1 pair of overalls. 

June 24, 1780. It was voted to raise 35 men and pay them a bounty 
of 50 silver dollars each. 

One silver dollar at the time was equivalent to seventy-two 
old Continental dollars. 

In 1779, the General Assembly ordered that the town of 
Smithfield, deliver thirteen cords of wood per week from 
January of that year to April 1st, inclusive. I think the 
matter of sufficient interest to give the apportionment of this 
requisition among the land-holders of the tow^n: 

cord. Benjamin Smith 3 cor ^ 

Oliver Arnold 1-2 

John Angell 1-2 

Joseph Jenckes 1 

John Jenckes 1 

Luke Arnold 2 

Nathaniel Arnold 2 

Samuel Day and Yeates 4 

Samuel Keach 1 

Daniel Whipple 2 

Ephraim Whipple 2 

-2 . . Abraham Keach 2 

•2 . . Joseph Angell lot 2 

Ezekial Angell 3 

Job Angell 3 

Abner Harris 2 

Jabez Harris 2 

Stephen Brayton 1 

Benjamin Ballard 1 

John Smith, jr 2 

Daniel Smith 1 

Elisha Mowry, jr 1 

Emer Smith 3 

Cushino- farm 1 

Enocli Barnes 5 

Rol)ert Latham 2 

Elisha Smith 3 

Nebadiah Olney 2 

Stephen Earnu'm 2 

Smithfield, August 26, 177C 
Mr. Wm. Shelden, Sir: 

I am ordered by Col. Slack, lo i^Wc jou notice, that the troops is called and will meet at 
iSfr. Larncd's on Thursday next, at nine o'clock in the morning, and I oi-der von not to fail of 
time and place. ' This from BE^'JAMIN IIUBBAKD. 



Silvanus Sayles 


1 


Eleazer Mowry 


1 


John Whipple 


1 


William Whipple 




Elisha Olnev 


10 


Josei)h Whi]iplt' 


5 


Nehemiah Shelden 


o 


Jonathan and A. Arnold 


( 


Jonathan Arnold 


•2 


Thomas Jenckes 


2 


Eydia Brown 


•] 


Enoch Angell lot 


21 


Oliver Angell lot 


21 


David Harris 




Jeremiah Smith 


5 


Daniel Wibiur 


1 


Henry Jenckes 


1 


David Harris, jr 


1 


Daniel Angell 


;'J 


Rufus Smith 


•> 


Charles Angell 


4 


Jeremiah Harris 


2 


Richard Harris, jr 


•t 


Jonathan Harris 


1 


Preserved Harris — . . . 


1 


Stephen Arnold, jr 


1 


James Shelden 


1 


Jeremiah Scott 




Jonathan Sprague lot . . 


- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 105 

Jos. Spauldiug and Son 2 cord. Samuel AVinsor G cord, 

Ahah Wilkinson 2 .. John Winsor 3 

Jonathan Dexter 1 .. George Streeter 2 

Samuel Dexter 1 .. David Bowen 1 

Stei)lien AVhii)])le 2 . . John JNIann 1 

Edwartl Thompson 1 . Caleb Aldricli 1 

Thomas Newman 2 .. Ezekiei Angell, jr i 

Simeon Arnold 1 . . Benjamin Sledhury 1 

Knig-ht Dexter 1 .. John Smith (od) 1 

Daniel Mowry, jr 1 . . Job Aldrich 1 

Joshua Arnold 1 . . James Appleby, jr 1 

Samuel Arnold 1 

4, The last war with the mother country did not awaken 
sufficient enthusiasm in these parts to give Woonsocket a 
place either in its records or its traditions. 

5. The next war is that which is known to the poet and 
the historian as the " Dorr War." It is unnecessary, and 
would be irrelevant (I came very near writing " irreverent") 
for me to trace the causes of that ever-memorable conflict, 
the antiquity of which, in the language of one of my enthu- 
siastic critics, reaches back nearly to the times of Charles II. 
But it will not be out of order, I trust, for me to give the 
copy of a resolution adopted by the freemen of the town of 
Smithfield, August 28, 1792 : " That the Representatives be 
instructed to move at the next General Assembly that a con- 
vention be appointed to make a constitution for the State." 

I am fully alive to the fact that at this point in my nar- 
rative I am about to step upon forbidden ground. During 
this exciting period the history of Rhode Island contains but 
two apartments. If the historian enters at all, he must cross 
the threshold of the " Dorrites " or the Algerines," and in 
either event he is sure to be tossed in a blanket. There is 
something irresistibly funny in the thought that the bare 
mention of the word " Dorr " contains sucli potency. It 
almost makes one to have faith in the Oriental miracle, 
wherein it is said that the rubbing of an old lamp would 
call up genii and hobgoblins from the bowels of the earth. 
But I beg of the reader that he will allow me to go 
14 



106 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



around the sacred edifice and simply warl)le at the outer gate 
the immortal epic of Mr. John Damphney. It is as follo^ys : 

" Laban Wnde 
With his brigade, 
And Landers with bis cannon" 

Some liken this song of Mr. Damphney to that of the three 
Avise men of Gotham, and urge that had his howl been 
stronger, his song would have been longer. Others insist 
that the bowl of Mr. Damphney was strong enough and his 
song long enough. Many are of the opinion that the brevity, 
or rather the magnificent incompleteness of the work was its 
crowning glory, whereby its author chose to excite the imag- 
ination and the vanity of his audience. On the other hand, 
it has been insinuated that the Pegasus of Mr. Damphney 
balked at the third line, and was unable to surmount the 
obstacle of the word " cannon." But there is too much 
evidence of poetic fire in the master-piece which I have 
quoted, for me to believe that its illustrious author was 
deficient in rhyming power, or that his production was other 
than it was intended to be — the epic of the Dorr War. 
And so, for the purpose of showing his detractors the many 
sources from which the poet might have drawn, rather than 
to mar the beauty of his work of genius by attempting its 
completion, I will take it upon myself to supply the wanting 
rhyme. My " poem " will consist of three cantos and be 
named 

THE DORRNEAD. 



CA]S"TO I. — The March. 

Lallan Wade, 

With his l)rigacle. 
And Landers with his cannon, 

For Mr. Dorr 

They went to war- 
Foot soklier, horse and man on, 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 107 

C^\ NTO II. — The Attack, 

Laban Wade 

With liis brigade, 
And Landers with his cannon, 

With spade and hatchet 

Took Chepacliet, 
Kettle, pot and pan on. 

CANTO III. — The Ketreat. 
Laban Wade 

Witli liis brigade, 
And Landers witli his cannon, 

From Acote's hill 

Through Burrillville, 
They ran, and ran and ran on. 

The Algerines were not so fortunate as their adversaries 
in having" a Mr. Damphney to celebrate their achievements. 
But the plan of their campaign was a masterly conception, 
and deserves a place in history if not in song. Oiie of their 
armies — which for want of a better name we will call the 
Army of the Blackstone — was stationed at Woonsoeket for 
the purpose of guarding the village and to cut off the retreat 
of the Dorrites, when the armies of the Woonasquatucket 
and of the Pawtuxet had driven the rebels from their strong- 
hold at Chepacliet. 

(^n the ever-memorable 27th of June, when the "lurid 
halo seemed to surround the sun," of which Mr. King speaks 
in his '■'• Life and Times of Thomas W. Dorr," intelligence 
was received that the Dorrites were marching on Woon- 
soeket, " six hundred strong." Then 

" There was hurrying too and fro, 
And mounting in hot haste." 

Sheet-iron shutters w^ere placed in the window^s of " Holder's 
Block," pierced with loop-holes, and everything made ready 
to give the audacious rebels a warm reception. The fan of 
the thing was, that upon the arrival of the scouts confirming 
the report, the Army of the Blackstone was immediately 



108 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

ordered to fall back to Manvillc, and poor "Woonsocket was 
left to its fate ! The next morning, after ascertaining, prob- 
ably, that the danger was all over, or that there had been no 
danger whatever, the army marched back to AVoonsocket 
again, looking as brave and warlike as ever. 

Up to this time, in the language of Col. Brown's famous des- 
patch from Acote's Hill, there had beeu "none killed and none 
wounded." The war was practically at an end. Gen. DeWolf 
and Col. Comstock could now beat their swords into pruning- 
hooks, and Welcome B. Sa^des retire from the turbulent 
scenes of diplomacy to the more peaceful pursuits of trade. 
All was quiet on the Pawtuxet, the Woonasquatucket and 
the Blackstone. But the Algerines had got on their war- 
paint. They had realized the terrors of battle without tasting 
its ecstasy ; they had endured the suspense of waiting for 
an approaching enemy, and had nndergone the hardship of 
running away. To return to their wives and their sweet- 
hearts — to resume their yard-sticks and their pen-wipers, to 
remove their epauletts and lay aside their canteens without 
performing a single heroic act, was not to be thought of. 
" I shall never forget," said one of the Algerine braves, " my 
terrible sensations as I waited in Holder's block for the ap- 
proaching Dorrites. My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and 
my gun, which was poked through an aperture in a sheet- 
iron shutter, trembled like an aspen leaf. I could endure 
the suspense no longer, and I stepped down and out and ran 
for the Bernon woods, as if Dorr and his whole army were in 
hot pursuit. The next morning I crept back to the village, 
and learned to my great delight that the Dorrite forces at 
Chepachet were disbanded. You ought to have seen me 
then ! How bravely I shouldered my musket, and with what 
a martial air I marched about ! I felt as if I must shoot 
somebody, and seeing what I supposed to be a Dorrite about 
half-a-mile distant, I discharged my gun towards him. It 



IMSTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. ' 109 

did me good to see him run, although my buHet could not 
liave gone within a thousand yards of him ! Such were the 
emotions of many of the "Law and Order" advocates, and 
for three long months the law Avas set aside under a pretext 
of its vindication. 

To close this warlike chapter without referring to the 
Woonsocket Guards, would he an act of which I am incap- 
able. Indeed, I am admonished that a military organization, 
whose exploits upon the parade-ground and in the banquet- 
hall have given to Woonsocket so much renown, deserves a 
larger space than the limits of this work permit. Previous 
to 1840, military companies at the " Old Bank," at Cum- 
berhmd. Lime Rock and elsewhere formed the 6th Regiment 
R. I. Militia. This was at one time commanded by George 
L. Barnes, who was afterwards promoted to Major- General. 
If I could do justice to the subject I would give a description 
of a "training" of this ancient organization, although by 
so doing I might forfeit the respect of the staid and sober 
reader. 

About the year 1840 Captain Handy, of Providence, came 
here and recruited a military company. It was called the 
" Woonsocket Light Infantry." This was when the faint 
rumbling of the famous Dorr rebellion was beginning to be 
heard. The company was recruited and chartered, to be 
used by the friends of law and order in case an outbreak 
should occur. 

But in 1842, and while in command of Capt. John Worrall, 
the company rebelled, transferring their allegiance and their 
muskets to the " Dorrites." For this act, of course, their 
charter was annulled, and the Woonsocket Light Infantry 
came to an inglorious end. 

In October, 1842, another military company was formed 
and chartered under the name of the "Woonsocket Guards." 
Its first officer was Captain Arnold Briggs. Being largely 



110 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

made up of the " Algcrine " element, a rival company was 

formed during the year and named the Cumberland Cadets. 

Of this organization L. C. Tourtellot was an active member. 

May 30, 1844, the "Guards" and the "Cadets" joined 

hands, and reorganized into a skeleton regiment under the 

new militia law — the regiment taking the name of " The 

Woonsocket Guards." It was composed of seventy men, 

and officered as follows : 

Colonel— L. C. Tourtellot. Adjutant— John Bartlett, jr. 

Lieut.-Colonel— John Glackin. Quartermaster— E. II. Sprague. 

Major— Orin A. Ballou. Paymaster— K. P. Smith. 

Captain— William 0. Bisbee. Coinmissary— Asa i*T. Ilolbrook. 

During the Summer of 1845 Armory Hall was erected. 
This was designed for a rendezvous for the " Guards," and 
a hall for public lectures, concerts, &c. It cost about -13,000. 
Towards this the State appropriated $1,000, and 8800 were 
raised by private subscription, leaving a debt of il,200. 
This hall, in the eyes of Woonsocket citizens, was one of 
the wonders of the world. " Particularly are we pleased," 
says a correspondent to The Patriot, "with the paneling 
of the ceiling ; while the stucco centre-pieces from which 
the chandeliers are to be susjiended, full}^ equal, if they do 
not surpass anything of the kind we have ever before wit- 
nessed." The chandeliers were procured — the money for 
the purpose having been loaned b}^ Paymaster R. P. Smith — 
and the hall was dedicated by one of the grandest balls that 
was ever given in the world. Distinguished guests from 
Boston, Providence and elsewhere were present, Dodworth's 
full band from New York furnished the music, and it was 
veril}^ a " splendid time." In the appendix the reader Avill 
find the names of the members of the " Guards," from 1842 
to 1863 inclusive. A perusual of this list may revive pleasant 
memories in the breasts of many. 

6. To the war with Mexico, Woonsocket contributed no 
treasure and but few men. I have been able to find but 



UlSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. Ill 

seven names of those who enlisted from this phice, and I 
think Lnt two or three are Avanting to make the list com- 
plete. These Avere : John Glackin, John B. Batehelor, 
Philip Melville, Robert Melville, Nicholas Tweedle, Dark 

Greene and Burpianna. They enlisted in Company 

B of the 9th Regiment U. S. A. The Captain of this com- 
pany at first was Joseph S. Pitman ; 1st Lieutenant, John S. 
Slocnm ; 2d Lieutenant, John Glackin.* The Captain Avas 
afterwards promoted to Major of the Regiment. Lieutenant 
Slocum Avas promoted to a captaincy, and John Glack'". 
became 1st lieutenant. The last-named gentleman, Avhile 
sojourning Avith us, Avas the pet of the young ladies and the 
terror of the older ones hereabouts. At last, the handsome 
dry goods merchant fell hopelessly in love, and he enlisted 
in the army Avith the hope of falling in battle ; but his hope 
was not realized, and he returned from the Avar to drag out 
the remnant of his life in povjerty and neglect. His loved 
one died of a broken heart. 

7. In the War of the Rebellion VVoonsocket, in common 
Avitli her sister towns both north and south, Avas forced to 
take an active part in every sanguinary conflict from Bull 
Run to Appomattox. A history of Avhat her sons encoun- 
tered in camp, in field and in prison, Avould be a history of 
the Avar itself, and a list of those Avho had a personal interest 
in almost every battle Avould be a census of the town. I 
sliall, therefore, confine myself to giving the names of 
Woonsocket boys Avho received commissions in Rhode Island 
regiments. 

The thrill awakened by the neAvs from Sumter, the pat- 
riotism aroused by the early defeats, and the enthusiasm 
enkindled by the glorious ending of the conflict has not yet 
faded from our minds, and I trust that the simple mention 
of those Avho led our noble boys to victory or a glorious 

*Jolin Glackin was commissioucd February 24, 18-i". 



112 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

death may serve to keep alive those memories which are so 
sacred to eveiy American patriot. 

If in the list w^hich I am about to give I have omitted 
names, it will not be from carelessness on my part, or that 
I have not labored faithfully to make the list complete : 

A LIST OF OFFICERS FROM WOOXSOCKET WHO SERVED IN R. I. 
REGIMENTS IN THE LATE REBELLION. 

Diite of Muster. Office. Company. Regimcut. 

Allen John A — May 2, 1801 . . 2d Lieutenant — K — 1st Infantry, 

Oct. 30, " ..Captain 1 4th 

Nov. 20, " ..Major 4th 

Ballon Sullivan. .May 2, " ..Major 2cl 

July 21, " ..Killed Battle Bull Kun. 

Batchellor J. B. ..May 2, " . .Sergeant K — 1st Infantry. 

Oct. 5, " .. " B.... 3d Artillery. 

July 8, 18(32 . .2d Lieutenant B 3d " 

Sept. 15, 1863. .Sergeant B — 3d Cavalry. 

BartholomewE. S.May 2, 1861. .Corporal K. . . .1st Infuntry. 

Oct. 9, " . .Sergt.-Major 3d Artillery. 

May 21, 1862 .. 2d Lieutenant .... E .... 3d 
June 10, " . .Killed Battle James Island. 

Brown Stephenll. June 0, 1861 . . 1st Lieutenant — 1 2d Infantry. 

Sept. 28, " ..Captain D....2d 

June 9, 1804.. Major 2d " 

Brownell D. L. . . . Sept. 6. 1802 . . Sergeant H . . . . 7th 

June 30, 1803 . . 2d Lieutenant — E — 7th ' ' 

Capron Adin B. . June 5, 1801 . .Sergeant 1 2d Infantry. 

July 22, " ..Sergt.-Major 2d " 

Oct. 11, " ..2d Lieutenant.... D.... 2d 
July 24, 1802 . . 1st Lieutenant . . ..E . . . . 2d 
Oct. 14, 1803.. U. S. Signal Corps. 

Capron Willis C . .Dec. 14, 1801 . .1st Lieutenant — D. . , .1st Cavalry. 
Xov. 16, 1803 . . Captain D 1st " 

Clark Albert B . . . Oct. 5, 1801 . . Sergeant B .... 3d Artillery. 

May 21 , 1803 . . 2d Lieutenant .... E .... 3d 

Daniels Percy — Sept. 6, 1802 . . 1st Lieutenant — E — 7tli Infantry. 

A] iril 30, 1803.. Captain E — 7th " 

Julys, 18<)4. .Lieut.. Colonel 7th " 

Grant Geo. H May 2, 1801 . .Ensign K — 1st " 

Dec. 10, " . .Captain D — .5th Artillery. 

Greene Albert E..May 2, " . .Sergeant K — 1st Infantry. 

Oct. 9, " . . 1st Lieutenant . . . . B — 3d Artillery. 
June 1, 1803. .Captain B 3d " 

Greene Chas. H. .Oct. 30, 1851. .2d Lieutenant — B — 4th Infantry. 

Nov. 20, " ..1st Lieutenant... .B 4th 

May 2, 1803 . . Captain B ... .4th 

Greene Geo. W. . . Oct. 5, I8(il . . Sergeant B — 3d Artillery. 

July 8, 1802 . . 2d Lieutenant B 3d " 

Jan. 21, 1803. .1st Lieutenant. . . .B. . . .3d 

Ilackett John — Oct. 5, 1801 . . Sergeant B — 3d 

Eeb. 3, 1804. .2d Lieutenant . . . .F. . . .3d 
June 22, 1805 . . 1st Lieutenant — E — 3d " 



IIISTOKY OF AVOONSOCKET. 



113 



Date of Muster. 

HubbannViii. E.,Oct. 13, 18(52 
Jenckes Allen — Oct. 30, ISGl . 

Jan. 13, 1803. 

Sept. 2(5, " . 
Jenckes Leland D. May 2, 18G1 . 

July 21, " . 

Muv23, 1802. 
Jillson F. G May 2, 1801 . 

May 20, 1802. 
Kent Levi E. Oct. 30, 1801 . 

Aug. 11, 1802. 
Lindsey Wni. IL.Oct. 13, " . 

Jan. 1, 1803. 

Jan. 21, " . 
Pierce Edwin A.. Oct. 30, 1801. 

Auo-. 11, 1802 



Pierce Henry E , 
Eead George S . . 



Feb. IS, 1803. 
.Dec. 10, 1801. 

Mar. 14,1802. 
.Oct. .5, 1801. 

Sept. 1, 1803. 
1801. 



Eussell E. A June 5, 

July 22, " 

Oct. 28, " 

Oct. 10, 18(52 
Simpson Peter. . ..May 2, 1801 
Small K. W June 5, " 

Sept. 23, 1804 
Smith S. James. .June 6, 1801 

July 21, " 
Steere Thomas . . .May 2, " . 
TourtllotL. C....Oct. 3, " . 
AV^aterhouse J. E.June (5, " . 

Oct. 28, " . 

May 19, 1803. 

June 28, " . 
Watson Chas. S. .May 20, 1802. 
Whitaker H. J...May 2(3, " . 

]SI"ov. 21, " . 
Wilbur Geo. A. . .Sept. 0, " . 

April 30, 1873. 

July 1, " . 
Williams IlenryP.Dec. 1(5, 1801. 

Feb. 14, 1803. 



Ollicc. Company. Ive-ginu'Ut. 

.Captain .F. . .12th Infantry. 

.Q.-Master Sergt 4th " 

.2d Lieutenant D 4th " 

. 1st Lieutenant — D — 4th ' ' 

.Private D 1st Infantry. 

.Prisoner at ]?ull Eun. 
.Eeleased from Salisbury, N. C. 

. Corporal K — 1st Infantry. 

. 1st Lieutenant — G — 9th ' ' 

Captain .F — 4th " 

.Major 4th 

.Sergeant F. ..12tli " 

. Sergeant-Ma j or 12th ' ' 

. Lieutenant . ." 48th jS". Y. 

.Coriioral E — 4th Infantry. 

. 2d Lieutenant .... B ... . 4th 
.1st Lieutenant — G — 4th " 
. 1st Lieutenant — J) — 5th Artillery. 
.Killed at Xewburn. 

.Sergeant B — 3d Artillery. 

.2d Lieutenant B 3d " 

.Sergeant-Major . ..1 2d Infantry. 

. 2d Lieutenant — G — 2d " 
. 1st Lieutenant — C — 2d " 

.Captain A — 2d •' 

. Captain K — 1st ', 

.Q.-Master-Sergt. ..K 2d 

. 1st Lieut. & Q. M 2d 

.Captain I. ...2d '• 

.Killed at Bull Eun. 

.1st Lieutenant — K — 1st Infantry. 

. Captain B 3d Artillery. 

.Sergeant 1 2d Infantry. 

. 2d Lieutenant — . 1 2d ' 

. 1st Lieutenant — 1 2d " 

.Captain 1 2d " 

.Captain G....9th 

, . 2d Lieutenant . . ■ . G — 2d • ' 
. .1st Lieutenant — A — 2d Cavalry. 
.2d Lieutenant — E — 7th Infantry. 
.1st Lieutenant — K — 7th " 

.Captain K — 7th 

. Sergeant D — 5th Artillery. 

. 1st Lieutenant — II — 5th 



Having devoted so miicli space to war, it is noAv liiglily 
proper that the band be introduced — I refer particukirly to 
the " Woonsocket Cornet Band." I think that this may be 
done without incurring the censure of other bands in this 
place ; for although these organization are not to be spoken 
of with contempt, yet it cannot be said of them, as of the 
15 



114 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

Cornet Band, that they have but three or four superiors, 
and but very few equals in the country. Neither shall I 
merit blame if I omit to say much of a band* which, in the 
times of " Old Dan Tucker" and " Oh, Susanna," rehearsed 
in a building now occupied by the Woonsocket Machine 
Company as office, etc. The Woonsocket Cornet Band was 
organized June 22, 1865. Its officers were : Emory A. 
Paine, president; Andrew J. Varney, vice-president ; Enos 
A. Clarke, clerk and treasurer. It first leader was Mr. E. 
A. Paine, and under him it vv^on many laurels. But the 
gentleman to whom it is chiefly indebted, and under whom 
it has become an institution of which Woonsocket feels justly 
proud, is Mr. B. W. Nichols. He was chosen leader May 4, 
1868 ; and, with the exception of a short time during which 
it was under the leadership of Mr. William Sparry, has filled 
the position, with eminent ability, until the present time. 
The band was chartered by the General Assembly at the 
January Session, 1874. 



APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VIII. 



Is'AMES OF MEMBERS OF THE WOOl^SOCKET GUARDS, 

FKOM THEIK ORGANIZATIOK, IN 184;^, TO 1SG3, 

Date of Membership. In U. S. V. Service. 

Abercrombie Ralph — April, ISOl — 

Adams Edwin S April, 1SG3 

Aldrich Arnold April, 1861 

Cbas. 13 May, 1847.... 

Israel Jan., 1856 

Mowry Oct., 1842. . . . 

" Wellington Aug., 1854 — 

*Tliis baud was the " United Brass Band." Its leader was xVugustus Brown. Its secre- 
tary was C. C. Gates. It consisted of sixteen pieces, and was in full blast in May, 1846. 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 



115 



Diite of Member; 

Allen John Oct., 1842. . 

John A " " .. 

L. C May, 1844.. 

L. S April, 1847.. 

Ames Proctor Sept., 1848. . 

Andrews Wni. II Oct. , 1842 . . 

Y.B May, 1847.. 

Arnold A. A May, 1859. . 

Cyrns Oct., 1842.. 

Elijah Sept., 1856.. 

E. J Sept., 1855.. 

" Henry S Seyst., 1855. . 

H. W Oct., 1844.. 

Leander A April, 1861 . . 

" Lewis J April, 1843- . 

Olney May, 1844.. 

Atwood Andrew April, 1858. . 

Baker George II Feb., 18(i2 . . 

" Jos. E Sept., 1858.. 

" JohuH Jan., 1862.. 

" Wm. G Oct., 18.55.. 

Baldwin GeorQ:e P Sept., 18.57- • 

Ballon Henry G Oct. . 1842 . . 

" James April, 1845. . 

" Orin A April, 1843. . 

" Silas G May, 1857 . . 

" Snllivan Oct., 1842. . 

" Willard Oct., 1842.. 

Bangs J. L Mav, . 1846. . 

Barry George W May, 1859. . 

Barstow Samuel Oct., 1845. . 

" Samuel C Nov., 18.55.. 

Bartholomew S. B May, 1859. . 

liartlett John, jr May, 1844. . 

Batchellor John B Sept., 1855 . . 

Baxter Allen E Mar., 1862. . 

" Wm. II ..April, 1S5(!. . 

Bisbee Wm. A Jan., 1862. . 

" Wm. O Oct., 1842.. 

Blackwood Wm, J Nov., 1861 . . 

Bliss E P Sept., 1845. . 

Booth Abram Aug., 1844. . 

" Stejihen Oct., 1844.. 

Boutelle Jas. W Sejjt., 18.55. . 

lioyden Wm. C Ai)ril, 1863- ■ 

Briggs Arnold Oct., 1842 . . 

'■' TXT Oct., 1842.. 

" Joseph Oct., 1842.. 

Brown Geo. AV May, 1844. 

" Stephen Sept., 18-15. 

" Stephen II Sept., 1855. 

Buffington II. S ^^Fay, 1844 . 

Jiurbank John May, 1845. . 

Burnett H Oct., 1842. 



lip. In U. S. V. Service. 

Major, 4th Infantry. 



Major, 2d Infantry. 



^In Mexican Yfav and 
\ War of Kebellion. 



Major, 2d Infantry. 



116 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

Date of Mc-mbersliip. In U. S. V. Service. 

Burnett \Yni. G July, 1856 ... . 

]3iitler L. B May, 1857. . • • 

Buxton Lvman E Sept., 1848. ... , ^ . . 

Capron Adin B April, 1861. • . -Lieut., 2d Infantry. 

Jos. B Jan., 1862.... 

P. W May, 1854.... 

Carter Ben. F Sept., 1855. . . . 

Chappell A. W Dec, 1856 .... 

Childs J. M April, 1845. . . . 

Chace Xelson Oct., 1842 .... 

Chillson Samuel E Aiig., 1847 

Clarke Albert B Aug., 1859. . . . 

" C. X Jan., 1862.... 

" EnosA Jan., 1862.... 

" Ste]ihen April, 1863 .... 

Cleveland Geo. C Sept., 18.56. .. . 

Coe Andrew B Sept., 1855 

Cole Albert B May, 1858. . . . 

Comerf ord Francis 11 . . Aug., 1860 .... 

Conlin Thomas Oct., 1842. . . . 

Cooke E. S April, 1861. . . . 

' ' Lvman Oct. , 1842 

' ' Mowry E April, 1863 .... 

Cooper Job Aug., 1846 — 

" Eufus J Oct., 18.58 

Corey Edward Sept., 18.55 — 

Coyle John C Jan. , 1856 

Crapon W. C May, 1844 ... . 

Crean E June, 18.59 — 

Grossman Luther jr . . . May, 1847 — 

John Oct., 1847.... 

Cutting John A May, 1856. . . . 

Daniels Eoyal Sept., 1844. . . . 

Dame Yf illiam Aug., 18.56. . . . 

Darcy James E Sept., 1857 — 

Dariing Gilbert May, 1844 .... 

Davis William G Oct. , 1858 ... . 

DayL. W Sept., 1844.... 

Dehnison William Sept., 1856 — 

Dickerson S. E A\ig., 1847 

Doyle George May, 1849 — 

'" John " " .... 

Duckworth George Oct., 1845 

Eastman John April, 1843 — 

Evans Erastus " " — 

Earrar John Jnlj, 1859 ... . 

Earrington h. ^Y May, 1844 .... 

Eisk Walter W Sept., 1855 .... 

Fisher Charles L Oct., 1842. . . . 

" George May, 1847 — 

Eitzpatrick James Sept. , 1857 — 

Flint Earl April, 1843. . . . 

Ford Abram Sept., 18.55 — 

" John April, 1861. . . . 

Fuller J. A " " . . . . 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 



117 



Date of Member; 

Gates Chris. C Sept., 1855. . 

" Henry C Sept., 1S5S. . 

Gee Ira Jan., 185G. . 

Glackin John May, 1844. . 

Ghuldina: Jos. A May, 1554. . 

Goff Wiiliam M Jan., 1862 . . 

Gorton Charles A May, 1844. . 

Dexter " " .. 

" J. K " 

Gonlcl Ebenezer Sept., 1848. . 

" Jesse Ocl;., 1842.. 

Grant Arunah " " . . 

" George H Xov., 18,55. . 

Greene Albert E Sept., 1858. . 

Caleb May, 1847.. 

" Charles C Ang., ISGO. 

Charles H Oct. , 1858 . . 

' * George W June, 1859 . . 

" Leonard M — Oct., 1857. . 

Wm. H April, ISGl . . 

Greenup James Mav, 1856 . . 

Racket John Oct., 1860. . 

Harris D. F Mav, 1859 . . 

Harrison Wm. II Feb., 1862. . 

Hay ward John Jan., 1862. . 

'' Jos. J " " ., 

Samuel Mar. , 1 856 . . 

Hayden Charles M May, 1847 . . 

Hendrick Otis Nov., 1855. . 

Herbert Charles Mar., 1862. , 

Hicks Jacob Oct., 1842 . . 

Hill George J April, 1860. 

Holbrook Asa N May, 1844 . 

M. K April, 1845. 

Holder William J Oct., 1842. 

Holmes D. F May, 1844. 

Hopkins Francis A Fel >. , 1862 . 

Honan William J Sept., 1856. . 

Hubbard William E . ...April, 1861. 

Hull E. S Oct., 1842. 

Hunt Daniel Sc])t., 18,55. 

Jenckes A. X ^fay, 18,56. 

E. M Oct., 18.55. 

" Ferdinand ]\Iav. 1856. 

George W Apii], 1861 . 

" Leander Sept., 1856. 

William II Oci, 1847. 

Jillson Frederick Jan., 1862 . 

" Francello G. . ..April, 1862. 

" AVilliam II Dec, 18.58. 

" Welcome June, 1844. 

Johnson B. W Jan., 1S62. 

Joslin Erastus May, 1857. 

Keach I'homas ]\la v, 1844 . 

" Thomas J Oct., 1S45. 



hip. lu U. S. V. SeiTicc. 



Lieut., in ]\Iexican War. 



Capt., 5th Artillery, 
Capt., 3d 

Lieut., 5th Artillery. 
Capt., 4th Infantry, 
Lieut., 3d Artillery. 



Lieut., 3d Infantry. 



Capt., 12th Infantry. 
Q.-M. S., 1st Infantry, 

Lieut., 9th Infantry. 
Lieut,, 4th Infantry, 



118 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Date of Member 

Kellev Thomas J Sept., 1860. 

Kent 'Levi E Oct., 1855. 

Lambert fl. A INIay, 1857 • 

Lapham William II . . ..Feb., 185G. 

Lanrette John Mar., 1856. 

Law Georoje Jan., 1862. 

Lazelle John Q Sept., 1855. 

Kathan C April, 1861. 

Leamont Alex Sept., 1856. 

Learned Wm. B May, 1851 . 

Legg Charles H Sept., 1855. 

Lever George May, 1845. 

Lewis Thomas Jan., 1862. 

Lindsay Perry A Dec, 1856. 

William May, 1844. 

Lippitt Peleg W Jnne, 1847. 

Lord Thomas jMay, 1860. 

L vnch Ira Mav, 1844 . 

Marsh Edward C Jaii. , 1856 . 

Martin Eugene Oct., 1842. 

W^illianiH May, 1844, 

Mason Thomas F Oct., 1842 . 

' * William A xVng. , 1845 - 

William E Feb., 1862. 

William O. . .'. .Oct., 1842. 

]\Ic Andrews John May, 1849 • 

]\IcCowen Henry ..Apiil, 1847. 

McLaran John Dec, 1856 . 

McPartlin Pat Oct., 1859. 

Mellor Godfrey K. Jan., 1862. 

Metcalf Edward Sept., 1855. 

" Homer " " . 

Miller Philips June, 18.59. 

Mitchell Augustus — June, 1856. 

Molten Henry May, 1844 . 

" James C "' " . 

Moore Albert W Sept., 18.55- 

" John ....Oct., 1842. 

Mo wry Henry C Sept., 1855. 

" Jackson P Oct., 1842. 

" John " " . 

" Lyman April, 1813. 

Mark A " " . 

Slater May, 1846. 

Murphy Pat June, 18.59. 

Neweli Dexter April, 1863. 

Nickerson William — Aug., 1847. 

Parks H. S Jan., 1862 . 

Paine Dani el X May, 1855 . 

" S. W Oct., 1842. 

" Thos. D May, 1844. 

Palmer George Sept., 1847- 

Parmenter H Sejit., 1856. 

Passmore John Oct., 1842. 

WMI " " . 



hip. In U. S. V. Service. 

. .Major, 4th Infantry. 



..Lieut.-Col., 40th :N". Y. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 110 

Date of Membcrsliip. In U. S. V. Service. 

Paul S. S Oct., 1842. . . . 

Pearce James L May, 1845 — 

Pearse Jos. X May, 1844. . . . 

Peck I^oah L Oct., 1842 .... 

" Walter B April, 1861 .... 

Peckham Nicholas April, 1843 — 

Perkins Charles E April, 1801 

Pierce Chas. L. D Ai)ril, 18(33 — 

" Edwin A April, 1801 — Lieut., 4th Infantry. 

" H. H July, 1857.... 

' ' James L May, 1849 ... . 

Place Charles T Jan. , 1862 .... 

Pollock Charles C . . - ..April, 1861. . . . 

Porter James K Aug., 1845 

Potter Asahel S April, 1861 .... 

Pratt Chas. II Mav, 1846. . . . 

Prentice Daniel A Sept., 1845. . . . 

Preston James ^lay, 1844 — 

Quimby S April, 1843. ... 

Panel S. S May, 1846. . . . 

Eead Allen W Sejit., 1844. . . . 

Keddy Patrick July, 1858 .... , 

, Head Charles K May, 1860. . . . 

Bobbins W. B Oct., 1842 .... 

Robinson Albert fl — Feb., 1862 — 

James Oct., 1842.... 

Rockwood John B Aug., 1856 

Rome James C May, 1844 

Russell Edward A April, 1801. . . .Capt., 2d Infantry. 

Saddler Jos. D June, 1845 .... 

Sayles Henry C Jan., 1862 

Scott Charles W May, 1847. . . . 

" George O Juiie, 1844 — 

" Horace A Feb., 1862.... 

Shaw C. C Aug., 1845 .... 

" Alfred April, 1845 .... 

Shortridge John E ]M:iy, 18.57 

Simpson Peter Ai)ril, 1840 — Capt., 1st Infantry. 

Small Robert W April, 1801. . . -Lieut., 2d 

Smith Reuel P Mav, 1844. . . . 

S. James Xov., 18.58. . . . Capt., 2d Infantry. 

" W, IL S Soi)t., 1855.... 

SnowIL B A])ril, 1801 

Spooner Nelson May, 1860 

Sprague E. II Oct., 1842. . . . 

Thomas Ian., 1862 

Steere Edward F fan., 18.56 — 

" Thomas Mav, I860. . - .Lieut., 1st Infantry. 

Stiles Janu's F Jaii., 18.56. ... 

Stockwell E. M Ai)ril, 18.50 

Stone Charles II Oct., 1842. . . . 

Street James B Sept., 1858. . . . 

Streeter V. R May, 1844. . . . 

Sweet James A Aiiiil, ist)2 — 

Sweetser George April, 1845 — 



120 



HISTORY OF WOOjSTSOCKET. 



1842. 
1844. 
1862. 
1842. 
1856. 
18.5.5. 
1844. 



1859. 
1842. 



Date of Mcmbcvsliii 

Talman Jolin B Maj', 1846 . . 

Taft George Oct., 

Thayer Alien May, 

" (leorge W Jan., 

II Oct., 

James W Feb., 

Tliurl )er Edwaixl Oct. , 

Tourtellot L. C May, 

N^arnev A. J " 

Vaslet" N. A May, 

Verry Geor£!:e F Oct., 

" Nathan T " 

VoseSethll " 

Wales Charles M Aug., 

M., jr Sept., 

" Sylvester Oct., 

" Willis H Mar., 

Walker George H June, 

Washlnirne George — June, 1844. . 
Waterhouse George W . Sept., 18.56 . . 

JohnR July, 1859.. 

Waterman E. B April, 1861 . . 

Stephen S.. Oct., 1842.. 

Watson C. L Sept., 1855. . 

Wheelock Anson A . . . • May, 18.54 . . 

E. W Oct., 1858.. 

Jos. H Jan., 1862.. 

Peter April, 1843 . . 

Whipple Enoch Oct . , 1842 . . 

Wight George A May, 1844. . 

Wilbur George A Sept., 1855. . 

Wilcox D. C Jan., 1762. . 

Wilkins George W Aug. , 1846 . . 

Williams H. P 

Wordwarth M Aug., 1844. . 



Ill U. S. V. Service. 



18.56.. 
18.55.. 
18.57.. 
1862.. 
18.56.. 



Capt., 3rd Infantry. 



Capt., 2d Infantry. 



Capt., 0th Infantry, 



Capt., 7th Infantry, 



Lieut., 3d Infantry. 



Part II 



CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

When the tinkling- of the bell on the Lyman jNIill re- 
echoed through the valley of the Blackstone, a new order 
of things had begun. Not particularly that the Lyman Mill 
was ornamented with a bell, but that most of the factory 
bells which began to ring about this time, in the vallej^ of 
the Blackstone, were so similar to it in pitch and tone, that 
they might easily have been mistaken for echoes of the bell 
upon the Lyman Mill. Occasional!}^ there were- bells which 
had a deeper tone, like those which in these later days adorn 
the factories of heavy corporations. But most of the bells 
in the days of which I now am writing, seemed to have been 
moulded by the same hands and pitched in the same key. 
And so I repeat the sentence with which (his chapter 
opened, that when the tinkling of the bell on the Lyman 
Mill re-echoed through the valley of the Blackstone, a new 
order of things had begun. It tolled the knell of the past 
and rang a welcome to the fulure — when iron and steel 
should take the place of muscle and sinew : when the steam- 
engine should supplant the ox, and the mountain, the forest 
16 



122 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

and the sea should cease to shut out the productions of the 
earth ; when the song of the plough-] )oy was to have a plain- 
tive tone, and the sounds of life and industry upon the farms 
should grow faint and fainter, till at last npon the hill-sides 
and the meadows a peaceful stillness shoidd descend. 

There is no farm-house however isolated, and no hamlet 
however remote, but whose inmates have been changed in 
their manner of living and their modes of thought by the 
advent of the locomotive and the spinning-frame. The 
changes Mdiich have taken place at Woonsocket since the 
bell upon the Lyman IMill first rang, it is now my pleasant 
duty to discuss. 

What is now Woonsocket Vv^as then a wilderness, and what 
was then Woonsocket is now, I Avas about to say, a deserted 
village. Indeed, the village — which then contained the Post 
Office, the Bank, the Academy, the stores and the taverns — 
has not only been deprived of every one of these useful 
institutions, but it is now not even comprised within the 
limits of the town to which it gave a name. 

Let us, in imagination, take a trip from what is now 
jNIonument Square to this village, which fifty years ago was 
the social, financial and political centre of a large extent of 
territory, and honored with the title of the " Capital of 
Smithfield." In the vicinity of what is now Monument 
Square stood a house which had fallen into ruin. Here, 
many years before, Moses Arnold, the grandson of John, 
had committed suicide. It was a suicide which partook of 
the nature of murder. Failing to destroy his wife, he took 
the axe, which he had designed for her destruction, and 
deliberately chopped himself to death. The cellar walls, 
and a portion of the chimney to the house in which the 
tragedy occurred, were all that now remained. Amidst the 
rubbish a tree had taken root. It was a gnarled, deformed 
and stunted tree, and seemed to bend its quivering branches 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 123 

above the step stones in a terribly suggestive manner. It is 
hardh^ necessary to say tliat this spot could not be passed, 
even at noon-day, without a shudder. 

Where the Providence Railroad now is, and where oftinies 
the music of our Cornet Band floats out upon the evening 
zephyr, ^-as a deep valley or ravine, gloomy and dark with 
thick woods. From this point the road continued to Market 
Square, in level places winding among the pines, or a narrow 
cart-path scooped out from the sandy hill-side. Along the 
road-side, and where the mills on Main street now are, was 
a rude trencli or ditch, Avhich connected with the saAV-mill 
pond, and from which water was drawn to irrigate the 
meadoAvs which lay along the bank of the river from the 
Rubber Works to the Clinton Mills. It may be well to say, 
in this connection, that on a rocky knoll, which was situated 
where the Cumberland end of the railroad bridge now is, 
^Ir. James Arnold constructed a pump for the purpose of 
Avatering lands which the ditch did not reach. This knoll 
was called the " Pump Rocks." A trench also ran along 
the Smithfield bank of the riA^er, for purposes of irrigation. 
This Avas built by George Arnold, the half-brother of James. 

From Market Square there Avere tAvo w\a3-s of reaching the 
Smithfield shore. One Avas to continue straight through the 
" Ram Pasture ; " or, in other Avords, along Avhere Ray's 
Mill, Kendrick's Harness shop, Elliott's Stable and the Rub- 
ber Works now are to the " Avading-place," Avhich AA^as near 
Avhere the Ballon Manufacturing Company's new mill noAv is. 
The other Avas to diverge to the saw-mill, Avliich stood where 
now stands the toAver of the Ballon Mill, near th,c " Falls," 
and from thence through the " Forge Lot " to the bridge. 

The bridges still occupy about their ancient position. The 
Smithfield bank of the river, near the falls, Avas a steep bluff, 
thickly studded with hemlock trees, which had taken root in 
mysterious Avays among the jutting rocks. 



124 HISTORY OF WOONSOGKET. 

Things now Legan to look more civilized. A few steps 
and the old house of William Arnold, upon one side of the 
road, and that of his brother Seth, upon the opposite side, are 
reached. A few rods more, and the homestead of John 
Arnold is seen. A short way farther, and we have passed 
the present limits of the town and entered a hnsy hamlet, 
where sounds of life and industry are heard on every hand. 

The village remains, but the yards of the taverns are 
covered with verdure, the crack of the coachman's v.diip and 
the ring of the blacksmitli's anvil are no longer heard. Tlie 
village remains, but a peaceful stilhiess has settled down 
upon it like a shroud. It seems to have had a mission to 
perform, and to have performed it. 

Let us turn from this Woonsocket of the past to the 
Woonsocket of the present, in which everything is unfin- 
ished, and everybody seems to b.e in haste to add more 
incompleteness ; where those who tear down and those who 
build up, seem to be working in unison to the same end ; and 
where the shadows are fast deepening upon the old order of 
thing's, and the dawn is growing bright and brighter upon 
the new. 

Hitherto I have been speaking chiefly of names and things. 
My path has been among dusty records and deserted habita- 
tions. I have now to speak of men, whose memory is still 
fresh and gi-een in the minds of many, and to describe 
events v/hich have but recently transpired. My task seems 
to be an easy one. But it is one thing to gather a huge 
collection of facts from sources which are within the reach 
of all; it is quite another thing to arrange these facts, so 
that they shall be useful and fitting. In entering, therefore, 
upon the modern history of the town, I crave the indul- 
gence of the reader. I fully realize tlie responsibility and 
importance of my work. 



CHAPTER 11. 

STARTING THE MILLS. 

The Woonsocket of the present, like that of the past, 
owes its existence to its water-power. This is derived from 
the falls of the Blackstone and its tributaries, Mill and Peters 
rivers. When the two last-mentioned streams received their 
names, I have been unable to ascertain. They were thus 
named Avhen the earliest deeds of Woonsocket estates were 
drawn. 

The first use of Woonsocket waters as a motor was upon 
the Blackstone, and operated a saw-mill, to which reference 
has been made. The second was upon Peters river — the 
upper fall supplying power to a grist-mill and the lower to 
a tri]vhammer. Tiie third was upon Mill river, and turned 
the first cotton machinery in these regions. 

There are two other small streams, whose waters were 
appropriated in former times, but which have since been 
abandoned. One of these, known in ancient times as the 
" Little River," and at the present time as Cherry Brook, 
rises near Woonsocket Hill and empties into the Blackstone 
near the Air Line Railroad. The other, which is too in- 
significant to be honored with a name, murmurs through the 
nu^adows at the Globe, and finally lends its humble assist- 
ance in turning the spindles in that vicinity. 

The total fall of the Blackstone, from the brow of the 
upper dam to the Bern on wheel apron, is about thirty-one 
feet — giving say 2,000 liorse-powcr ; 14-82 of the river 
passes into the Bernon poiul, and from thence through the 
wheels of the Bernon mills. Of tliese fourteen parts, eight 



12G HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

parts pass through the wheels of the Globe mills, on the 
Smithfield side of the river ; and the remaining six parts 
through the Avheels of the Ballon, Harris No. 1, the Lyman 
and the grist mills, on the Cumberland side of the river ; 
16-32 of the river passes through the wheels of the Lippitt 
and Harris mills and of the Woonsocket Machine Works, 
and from thence through the wheels of the Groton and 
Clinton mills. The remaining 2-32 of the river passes — 
First, through the Avheels of the Bartlett Mill ; second, 
through the D. N. Paine, now the Lippitt Privilege ; and 
third, through the wheels of Pond's Warp Mill. The total 
fall of Peters river is fifty-two feet, twenty-four feet at the 
upper fall and twenty-eight feet at the lower fall — giving 
say 110 horse-poAver. The total fall of Mill river is sixty 
feet, forty feet being used at the Harris Privilege and twenty 
at the Social — giving about 450 horse-power. 

The proprietors of the water privileges at Woonsocket 
in 1810, were James Arnold, Stephen Wilcox and Joseph 
Arnold — the first-named representing the power upon the 
Blackstone, the second upon Peters river, and the third 
upon Mill river. 

The success of Samuel Slater in his new enterprise had 
enkindled high hopes in the minds of men. The time 
seemed to be at hand Avhen the barren hill-side and the 
rocky pasture could be utilized, and when the smiles of 
Fortune should descend through the forbidding skies and 
upon the sterile fields of New England. Many a thrifty 
farmer and industrious mechanic embarked his all in mills 
and machinery, to awaken at last from a golden dream to 
the stern realities of failure and disappointment. 

The first to catch the infection at Woonsocket was Joseph 
Arnold. This man had inlierited from his grandfather, 
Daniel Arnold, the large extent of territory reaching from 
the river at Cold Spring Grove to the river again at the 



HISTORY OF WOONSOGKET. l27 

Social. Mr. Arnold did not go into the undertakino- very 
largely, and liad the caution to associate himself Avith others 
Avitli whom he might share the losses as well as the profits 
of the enterprise. 

October 24, 1810, a meeting was called. The company 
consisted of the following-named gentlemen : Ariel, Al)ner 
and Nathan Ballon, Eher Bartlett, Job and Luke Jenckes, 
Oliver Leland and Joseph Arnold. At this meeting a 
"covenant of agreement" was signed and by-laws enacted, 
with the following preamble : 

" Whereas, a connection hath tliis day hen formed for tlie purpos 
of manufactrinf? cotton yarn and cloth for our comuion emohmient, 
to he caled the Social Manufactring Company" etc. 

The capital stock of this concern was 816,000, divided into 
sixteen shares. In the beginning, each stockholder was the 
proprietor of two shares. The original estate of the com- 
pany consisted of two lots, the whole containing four acres 
and twenty-five rods, which had been sold to the company 
by Mr. Arnold. The mill was to contain 2,000 spindles, 
including carding and repairing machiner3\ This mill was 
a small wooden structure, and now forms a part of the 
boarding-house at that place. In ancient times, probably 
from its size, it was named or nick-named the "Pistareen." 
In 1814 the stock had changed hands, and the sixteen parts 
stood as follows : 

Job .Jenckes 5 parts. Ariel Balkni 2 parts. 

Luke Jenckes 4 " Altner Ballon -2 

Moses Jenckes 1 " .Toseph Arnold 2 " 

In 1822 the Jenckes proprietors disposed of their rights in 
the concern and commenced their operations on Peters river, 
at a place now known as Jenckesville. The first mill at this 
place was built in 1822, and was the first stone mill erected 
in Woonsocket. The second was built in 1828. 

In 1823 the Social stock stood as follows : Smith Arnold, 
nine parts ; Arnold & Earle, seven parts. 



128 HISTORY or "WOONSOCKET. 

Ill 1827 tlie second wooden mill vvas begun at this place.* 
This mill is now a tenement house, and known as the 
'' Castle." 

March IG, 1839, Arnold & Earle became tenants in com- 
mon of the estate. 

November 12, 1841, Dexter Ballouf became the sole pro- 
prietor, and the following year began the erection of a stone 
mill. This mill was afterwards improved and enlarged, and 
as far as money and sk'll could avail, was made perfect in all 
its appointments. The company, under whom the principal 
improvements were made not only in the mill but at the 
village, is officered as follows : Orin A. Ballon, President ; 
Henry Lijipitt, Treasurer ; Charles Nourse, Superintendent. 

July 1, 1874, this mill was entirely consumed by fire ; but 
the company at once began the erection of the elegant and 
massive structure which now adorns the locality. The mill 
of the Social Manufacturing Company is noAV the pride of 
Woonsocket, and no one, in these days, ever thinks of calling 
it " The Pistareen ! " 



*The speeders for this mill were made by Joseph Ray, of East Blaekstoue, the father of J. 
P. & J. G. Ray. The spinning frames and mules were built by Metcalf, at Arnold's mills. 
Other machinery was made by Messrs. W. & L. A. Cooli, of Woonsocket. 

jMr. BaUou at first run the Social for the assignees of Arnold & Earle. Wlicn the property 
was sold in 1841, he, in compauj- with Tyler and Dan A. Daniels, purchased it for $25,000. 
He afterwards bought of James Aldrich the surrounding lands and meadows. 



CHAPTER III. 

JAMES ARNOLD. 

The proprietor in 1810, at Woonsocket, of the water- 
power of the Bhickstone and the surrounding estates was a 
great man — a very great man — being upwards of six feet 
tall and well proportioned. His name was James Arnold. 
His title I have followed down in a previous chapter ; but 
for the benefit of those who begin the reading of this History 
at its second part, I will repeat what I have given before. 
The first proprietors were the Indians, the second was Josiah 
Chapin, the third was Seth Cliapin, the fourth was John 
Arnold, the fifth was his son (Anthony Arnold), the sixth 
was Seth Arnold (the brother of Anthony), the seventh was 
James Arnold (the son of Seth). 

Seth Arnold at first lived at i\\Q Globe, in a house which 
stood in the rear of the Globe store, and has recently been 
demolished to make room for a brick building which has 
been erected by the Ballou Manufacturing Company. He 
subsequently removed to the house of his son James, which 
stood where now stands the Woonsocket Hotel, where he 
passed the remainder of his days. This house was after- 
wards removed a few feet up Arnold street, and was last 
used principally as a rum shop. It has since been removed 
to its present locality on River street, to make room for the 
brick block of Grimes Brothers. The well to this house 
was about in the centre of what is now Arnold street. 

James Arnold, familiarly known in his day as " Uncle 
Jim," was a manufacturer — of Indian meal. The cotton 
17 



180 HISTORY OP WOONSOCKET. 

mania seems not to have afflicted him to any great degree. 
He built mills and shops and store-houses, but he was con- 
tent to allow others to occupy them at a fair rent. Uncle 
Jim was a cautious niAn — a very cautious man ; in fact, his 
extreme caution was the chief source of his unhappiness, for 
he never parted with an inch of his real estate without a pang, 
and always referred to the transaction as if he had realized 
the worst of the bargain. His querulous comparisons of the 
values of land in Woonsocket and in New York city were 
touching in the extreme. But in his struggle to develop the 
value of his estate, he suffered the greater part of it to slip . 
through his fingers. When the great freshet of 1807 washed 
away his works upon the island, his building operations 
began. He was now in the forty-fourth year of his age. 

The first building of James Arnold was erected in 1808. 
This was a grist mill. The upper story of this building was 
used by various parties in a small way to card wool. Daniel 
Paine (not Daniel N.) at one time, and Jesse Carroll at 
another, were manufacturers therein. This building was 
destroyed in the great fire of March 25, 1829, and the 
grist mill now owned by Albert Mowry, Esq. was erected 
upon its site. 

The second building of James Arnold was a shop, about 
30x38 feet in size. This was built in 1810, and used in sub- 
sequent times for various purposes. Its principal historic 
value consists in its having been where Welcome Farnum 
began his career as woolen manufacturer. This building 
was afterwards removed a few feet down Main street to 
make room for Holder's block, and was occupied at the time 
of its recent demolition by Jacob Hein, as a barber's shop, 
and by Messrs. J. P. & J. G. Ray, as an office to their mills. 

The third building of James Arnold was erected about the 
year 1812. It first occupant was Daniel Wilkinson. This 
man was from a place formerly known as " Sinking Fund," 



HISTORY OV WOONSOCKET. 181 

and now as Ashton. He is spoken of as having been the 
first cultivator of cherries in this section. He was a nepliew 
of the celebrated Jemima Wilkinson. Like nearly all the 
Wilkinsons, he was a mechanical genius, and differing from 
many of this race, he Avas a firm and consistent Quaker. He 
was a manufacturer of card clothing, and occupied the build- 
ing as a place in which to draw the wire for that purpose. 
The second occuiDant of the building was Amos Whipple, a 
machine builder. The third were Rufus & Stephen Thayer, 
of jNlilford, to whom the building was sold April 5, 1822. 
They had previously leased the building, and used it as a 
place in which to finish satinets and woolen goods, manufac- 
tured by W. & D. D. Farnum and others. The Messrs. 
Thayer leased a portion of the building to a firm, consisting 
of Job Greene, his son Samuel and Simon Mowry (a cousin 
of Spencer). They were manufacturers of woolen goods in 
a small way. March 25, 1829, tliis building was destroyed 
by the great fire to which I have alluded. Soon afterwards 
another building was erected on the site. March 2G, 1881, 
the property came into the possession of Edward Harris, and 
was where this remarkable man began his business opera- 
tions at Woonsocket. The building is now known as " Harris 
No. 1 Mill." 

The fourth building of James Arnold was erected about 
the year 1814. For what purpose it was designed, I am as 
unconscious as I believe its builder to have been. It seems 
to have been a development instead of a creation. Here 
Dexter Ballon began to spin cotton at Woonsocket, and 
here, long before that of Sharpe & Roberts, a self-operating 
mule was in successful operation. It was used in spinning 
Avool. Its inventor was Gilbert Brewster. It was rather a 
clumsy affair, and was abandoned after being in use but a 
short time ; but it served to illustrate the genius and the 
skill of its inventor. October 8, 1821, the building was 



132 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

conveyed to Daniel Lyman, and has since been known as 
the "Lyman Milh" At the time of its conveyance its occn- 
pants were : Dexter Ballon, in the first and second stories, 
and Gilbert Brewster and Samnel Shove in the upper stories. 
August 6, 1864, the Ljanan Mill estate passed into the hands 
of its present proprietors, Messrs. J. P. & J. G. Ray. 

Tlie fifth building of James Arnold was that which is now 
occupied by the Kendrick Loom Harness Company. This 
was erected about the year 1817, and was first occupied by 
a party by the name of Sayles, as a thread mill. It was 
subsequently occupied b}' Thomas Arnold as a machine shop. 
Since then it has been used for various purposes. In the 
meantime, " Uncle Jim " had enlarged his real estate by pur- 
chasing the right of his cousin Elisha in the saw-mill estate, 
and the rights of Thomas and Moses Aldrich in the " Old 
Forge." He had also erected several small dwelling-houses, 
and his new mansion on Arnold street, which is now owned 
and occupied by the heirs of the late Charles Donahoe. 
Besides these mills and houses, he leased lands upon which 
other parties erected buildings. A part of one of these 
buildings is now standing near the old office of Messrs. 
George C. Ballon & Son. It is spoken of in the deed as 
being 18x66 feet in size, and " situated a few rods south- 
west from the grantor's old mansion-house." It was built 
by Giles Richards, and used as a silver-plating establishment. 
During the last war with Great Britain, business was sus- 
pended therein and never afterwards resumed. But, to 
go back to James Arnold, the more that " Uncle Jim " 
possessed, the poorer he grew. His real estate increased in 
volume, and so also did his interest account. He was, 
therefore, obliged to part with many of his dearly-loved 
acres to save himself from bankruptcy. 

1. His first sale of real estate was made May 12, 1814, to 
Samuel G. Arnold and Daniel Lyman. It is spoken of in 



HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 133 

these days as the "Aruold and Lyman purchase." The 
estate consisted of one-half of the river and twenty-five acres 
and one hundred and twelve rods of land, and comprised the 
present mill estates from the Lippitt to the Clinton Mill 
inclusive. 

2. His second sale was made April 25, 1821, to Dan A 
Daniels. This comprised what is now the Bartlett Mill 
estate, the new purchase of the Lippitt Woolen Company 
on the southerly side of Bernon street, the eastern portion 
of the Harris Woolen Company's estate, the Cumberland 
property of the Woonsocket Company and the Mason Soap 
Works estate. 

3. His third sale was made October 8, 1821, and was that 
of the Lyman Mill and estate. 

4. His fourth sale was made June 1, 1827, to Thomas 
Arnold, Thomas A. Paine and Marvel Shove, and was what 
is now known as the " Globe estate." 

5. His fifth sale was made October 20, 1827, to Dan 
A. Daniels, and was what is now known as the " Bernon 
estate." 

To each of the above-mentioned real estate transactions 
(with the exception of that of the Lyman jMill property, of 
which I have spoken at length), I shall devote a liberal 
space at the proper time. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE END OF THE OLD SAW-MILL. 

When " Uncle Jim" had disposed of tlie estates wliicli 
have been enumerated, there was but little left of him. But 
he was still the proprietor of the connecting link which 
joined the past history of Woonsocket to the present — I re- 
fer to the ancient saw-mill, with the history of which you 
are already familiar. 

The purchase of the Lyman Mill in 1821 had forced its 
occupants to look about them for other quarters. May 1, 
1822, Oliver Ballou and his son Dexter leased the " saw- 
mill lot " of James Arnold, for the purpose of erecting a mill 
for the, manufacture of cotton and woolen goods. The 
dimensions of this lot v^ere stated as 33x70 feet, and the 
mill to be erected thereon was to cover the ground. An- 
other of the conditions was, that the " saw-mill be removed 
to the west side of the river within one year." At the same 
time, another lot of land was leased by Oliver Ballou & Son, 
which was said to contain 900 square feet, and upon which 
a stone was to be placed. The mill wdiicli " covered the 
ground "was, therefore, 33x70 feet in size. It contained 
two stories and a stone basement. When first started it was 
occupied as follows : The basement by Messrs. W. & D. D. 
Farnum, the first story by Messrs. Oliver Ballou & Son, and 
the second story by Samuel Shove. 

April 2, 1827, Oliver Ballou had disposed of his right 
therein to his two sons, Hosea and Dexter, and the whole 
mill was used and occupied by the firm of Dexter Ballou 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



186 



& Company — Dexter owning three-fourths and liosea one- 
fourth of the concern. February 6, 1828, Dexter purchased 
the right of his brother, and the whole stood in liis name. 

March 25, 1829, this mill took fire. The flames were com- 
municated to the building, which stood where now stands 
Harris No. 1 Mill, and to the grist mill of James Arnold, and 
the three buildings were totally consumed. Mr. Ballou was 
insured for f 10,000, but his loss largely exceeded his insur- 
ance. A few days afterwards a subscription was started b}^ 
the many friends of Mr. Ballou for his relief, and a large sum 
was raised. Although Dexter Ballou, with his characteristic 
independence of spirit, declined to accept the gift, a copy 
of the names of those who subscribed will be of interest to 
many : 



Welcome Farnum $250 00 

Tliomas A. Paine 50 00 

William Coe 25 00 

David Morrison 50 00 

l\ler Daniels 20 00 

Van B. Streeter 15 00 

Hiram Allen 10 00 

William Jenckes 10 00 

Darius D. Buff um 10 00 

Thomas Arnold 100 00 

Darius Faruuiii 250 00 

Waldo n^arle 250 00 

Hiram Ballou 25 00 

Cephas Holbrook 25 00 

A. S. Streeter 10 00 

ISTelson Taf t 25 00 

W. S. Eaiidolph 10 00 

Henry Williams 10 00 

Scanimell Aldrieh 10 00 

William J3aleom 10 00 

Alden Coe 2 00 

John B. Madison (to he 

done in carpenter work) 5 00 
Farnum Harris 5 00 



Arnold Reynolds 

Isaac Elshree 

Simon Aldrieh 

Samuel Mowry 

Arunah Grant 

Mellatiah Ware 

Franklin M. Arnold 

Smith Arnold 

John Bartlett 

John ]3urnham 

D. A. Lyman 

D. Wilkinson 

William Earle 

Eli Pond, jr 

William Elsbree , 

Darius Sibley 

Jauies Follett 

Edwin Follett 

Samuel (lifford 

William 15. Maiiu 

Joseph Almy, for Alm}^, 

Brown & Slater 

Aaron White 



$2 50 
10 00 
10 00 

4 00 
2 00 

1 00 

2 00 
250 00 

10 00 
10 00 
10 00 
20 00 
10 00 
20 00 
2 50 

5 00 
2 00 
2 00 
2 00 
2 00 

125 00 
10 00 



The ruins were subsequently roofed over, and occupied 
first by Arnold and Bacon as a place to finish flat irons, 
(which were made in a sliop then standing Avhere Pond's 
Warp Mill now is), and afterwards by George C. Ballou, the 



136 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

brother of Dexter. Dexter Ballon continued his business, 
after the fire, on lands now owned by the Lippitt Woolen 
Company. 

The occupant of the "saw-mill lot" was now George 
C. Ballon. This eminent citizen was born in Cumberland, 
in February, 1798. Soon after reaching his majority he 
came to Woon socket, where his father and elder brother 
were engaged in manufacturing. Here he remained a short 
time, and pursued his trade of carpenter. His first entrance 
into the manufacturing fraternity was at VVaterford, where 
in 1826, in company with his brother Hosea, he made satinet 
warps. Soon after the destruction of his brother Dexter's 
mill he returned to Woonsocket, repaired the ruins and spun 
yarn therein, which he dressed in the second story of a 
wooden building owned by Hosea, and standing on lands 
now owned by the Lippitt Woolen Company. This last 
mentioned building, together with the other wooden build- 
ings which stood on this estate, was destroyed by what is 
si3oken of to this day as the "great fire" of April, 1835. 
But he continued his manufacturing operations on the " saw- 
mill lot," and prospered to such an extent that he was 
finally enabled to purchase the property of James Arnold. 
The sale was consummated August 24, 1839. He now en- 
larged and extended the works, which continued in success- 
ful operation until January 23, 1846, when, at half-past 
eleven o'clock p. m., a fire took place therein, and the mill 
was a second time consumed. His loss was estimated at 
$24,000, on which the insurance was but 1 14,000. But not 
discouraged by the calamity, he at once began the erection 
of the stone mill which now adorns the locality. 

At the time of his death he Avas largely interested in 
the Clinton Manufacturing Company, was president of the 
American Worsted Company and of the Ballon Manufactur- 
ing Company, which represented not only the estate of which 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 137 

I have been speaking, but also the " Globe " estate on the 
Smithfield side of the river, and of which I purpose to speak 
at length. 

He died Saturday, March 25, 1876, at about eight o'clock 
A. M. His funeral was solemnized at his late residence, on 
South Main street, on the afternoon of the following Tues- 
day. The religious exercises were conducted by Rev. Adin 
Ballon, of Hopedale, Mass., after which the remains were 
given into the hands of his brethren of Morning Star Lodge, 
No. 13, and his companions of Union Royal Arch Chapter, 
No. 5. The brethren selected by the Lodge as pall-bearers 
were — Charles S. Landers, Abner Ballon, Smith Ray Mowry 
and Charles Nourse. The companions selected by the Chap- . 
ter to this sad office were — Dr. Ariel Ballou, Colonel L. C. 
Tourtellot, Thomas A. Paine and Aruna B. Armstrong. At 
the preliminary exercises held in the Lodge-room affecting- 
tributes were offered to the memory of the deceased by Past 
Masters Ariel Ballou and L. C. Tourtellot, and W. M. George 
A. Whipple. 

Mr. Ballou had been a Mason for more than half a cen- 
tury. The Morning Star Lodge, of which he was a worthy 
member and a Past Master, was located at Cumberland Hill 
at the time of his initiation. This Lodge afterwards con- 
solidated with the Evening Star Lodge, which was located 
at the Union Village, and took up its abode at the " Falls." 

The house and grounds of the deceased at the time of the 
funeral exercises were crowded with sympathizing friends. 
The streets were lined with people almost the entire distance 
between his late residence and Oak Hill Cemetery, where 
his remains were deposited. It was a touching tribute to 
the virtues of the deceased. With him passed away one of 
the pioneers of modern Woonsocket. By his industry, per- 
severance and frugality, he was enabled to materially assist 
in the development of a thriving and wealthy village from 
18 



138 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

what was a wild and sparsely settled region at the time 
of his coming. The mills which he built are the pride 
of Northern Rhode Island ; but his many virtues have 
left a more enduring monument to his memory upon the 
hearts of all who knew him. By his dress and outward 
demeanor, he seemed alike indifferent to the smiles or the 
frowns of Fortune. In prosperity or adversity he was 
always " Uncle George." Delighting in the patrician tastes 
of those who owed their all to him and his bounty, he was 
content and happy to mingle with his humblest laborers as 
one of them. He passed away, len,ving a host of friends and 
not a single enemy behind him. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE ARNOLD AND LYMAN PURCHASE. 

You will remember that Richard Arnold gave to his two 
sons, Richard and John, his Woonsocket property, and to 
his son Thomas his lands in the valley of the Moshassuck. 
It is a curious coincidence that one of the parties to whom 
James Arnold (May 12, 1814) conveyed the large extent of 
territory reaching from Market Square to the Social, and 
which is now the most valuable portion of the town, was a 
descendant of this Thomas Arnold, the third son of the first 
settler of these regions. 

Again, it is a fact worthy of note that one of the Arnold 
& Lyman firm was the father of a man who Avas afterwards 
Lieutenant-Governor of the State (Hon. Samuel G.Arnold), 
and the other was father-in-law of Lemuel Hastings Arnold, 
a Governor of the State. But I am digressing from what I 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 139 

set out to do, namely — to give the subdivisions of tliis 
extensive tract of land, and trace the titles thereof to their 
i:)resent holders. 

The price which James Arnold received for the land and 
water rights was $20,000. This at the time was thought 
exorbitant. But Arnold afterwards tried to get the property 
into his own hands again, and made some legal attempts to 
that end, but in vain. During their life-time the original 
purchasers did nothing to develop the value of their estate. 
After their decease, the Court, in 1827, apportioned the 
property among the heirs in the following manner. It was 
first divided into twent}^ lots. The heirs of Samuel G. 
Arnold were given Lots 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. 
The heirs of Daniel Lyman were given Lots 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 
12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. 

Lot No. 1. — This lot is now entirely covered by the works 
of the Lippitt Woolen Company. I will try and describe 
this lot as it was when Dexter Ballon, after having been 
burned out at the " saw-mill lot," commenced his operations 
thereon in the brick mill which had been erected by his 
brother Hosea. But before doing so, the reader must allow 
me to avail myself of the present opportunity to give a hasty 
sketch of the man who really deserves the honorable title 
of " Pioneer of Cotton-spinning at Woonsocket." A little 
had been done at the Social ("the Pistareen"), it is true, 
before his coming. But it was a very little, and the Social 
at that time could hardly be said to be in Woonsocket. 

Dexter Ballon came to this place in the autumn of 1817. 
Previous to this time, he and his father had begun their 
manufacturing operations near a place known in the last 
generation as " Sinking Fund," and in the present as Ash- 
ton. The machinery, consisting of five cards — which were 
made by Dexter in person — and three spinning frames of 
eighty-four spindles each, were removed from that place 



140 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

to their new quarters in the " Lyman Mill." (I use the 
term " Lyman Mill " for convenience. Of course, it was 
not known as such until Lyman became its proprietor.) 
Subsequently they purchased a mule of one hundred and 
eighty spindles, which was operated by Lapham Jeffyrs, and 
in a short time another mule, which was run by Joseph 
Carroll. Up to 1820 the cotton-picking for this firm, and 
also for other mills in this section, was done by a man by the 
name of Everet, who operated a machine in the basement of 
the Lyman Mill. In this year the Messrs. Ballon purchased 
their first picker. During the same year some looms were 
procured. Patty Ballon, afterwards the first wife of Lapham 
Jeffyrs, operated two of the looms, for which she received 
$3 per week. About the same time a dresser was pur- 
chased. The operator of this machine was a man by the 
name of Southwick. William Jenckes overseed the carding 
at five shillings per da}^, and William Coe kept the factory 
store and books at the same price. When Daniel Lyman 
purchased the mill of James Arnold, he bought also the 
cotton machinery of the Messrs. Ballon. Their operations 
upon the " saw-mill lot" I have given in a preceding chap- 
ter. Like his brother George, Dexter Ballon was entirely 
free from ostentation. With his sleeves rolled up, and his 
working suit on, he devoted his time and attention to his 
chosen calling. " Every shaft, pulley and machine in the 
mill were set under my personal direction," was his sad re- 
mark as he surveyed the ruins of his works on the " saw- 
mill lot." Not only did this prudent man look after his 
mills and machinery, bat he watched over the welfare of his 
help with parental solicitude. The butcher, the baker and 
the candlestick-maker had a hard road to travel who took 
advantage of the help of Dexter Ballon ! If in the history 
of American cotton-spinning there had been more Dexter 
Ballous, there would have been fewer panics to record. But 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 141 

even Dexter Ballon had his failings — he was an inveterate 
smoker ! 

In the year 1829 he resnmed manufacturing in the brick 
mill, which then stood on Lot No. 1. This mill was the 
lirst improvement which was made on the lot, and stood on 
land leased of the Arnold heirs. A short time after the 
erection of his brick mill, Hosea Ballou built a wooden 
building, a little southerly thereto, for a store-house. This 
building contained two stories and an attic, and was where 
George C. Ballou dressed the yarn spun at his mill on the 
" saw-mill lot." 

In the Fall of 1825, Willis and Lyman A. Cook leased 
another portion of the lot, and erected thereon a wooden 
building for a machine shop. The brick mill and the two 
Avooden buildings stood end to the street. Just south of the 
lot which I am attempting to describe, on land owned by 
Dan A. Daniels, and where the Woonsocket Falls Bank once 
stood, was another wooden building. 

Such was the condition of things on Lot No. 1 while 
Dexter Ballou was running the brick mill, until April, 1835, 
when the three above-named wooden buildings were totally 
consumed by fire. In the Summer of 1836 Dexter Ballou 
erected a stone mill on the site of Cook's machine shop, 
placing its side to the street, and a few years after extended 
this stone mill, connecting it with the brick mill before- 
mentioned. The whole was known until 1865 as the " Har- 
rison Mill," when it was changed into a woolen mill, and 
took the name of the Lippitt Woolen Mill. The officers of 
this establishment are — Henry Lippitt, President ; Charles 
II. Merriman, Treasurer ; Jonathan Andrews, Superintend- 
ent. On the ruins of the store of Dan A. Daniels a brick 
building was erected. In the lower story thereof the Post 
Office was located, and a grocery store was kept. In the 
upper story were law offices and the rooms of the Woon- 



142 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

socket Falls Bank. Before taking up its quarters in the 
building last-mentioned, the Bank was located in a little 
building now standing near the Cumberland Mill of the 
Ballou Manufacturing Company. The- lower story or base- 
ment was used as a grocery store. The banking rooms 
afterwards became the counting-room of G. C. Ballou & 
Son, and the basement was used for a waste-house. The 
Bank Avas started in 1828. Its first President was Dexter 
Ballou, who held the office until his death, which occurred 
Tuesday, July 17, 1819. To return to the brick building, 
which stood south of Lot No. 1. This was torn down in 
1870, to make room for the extension of the LijDpitt Woolen 
Mill. 

Lot No. 2. — Upon this lot stands the cotton mill of the 
Harris Woolen Company. This lot, with Lots Nos. 3 and 6, 
was purchased May 31, 1827, of the Lyman heirs by Samuel 
B. Harris, the uncle of Edward. Upon the failure of Mr. 
Harris in 1829, his assignee sold Lots 2 and 3 to Alexander 
Ballou, and Lot No. 6 to W. & D. D. Farnum. The Messrs. 
Farnum afterwards became proprietors of the three lots, and 
July 21, 1835, sold them to Seagrave & Harris. June 18, 
1836, this firm leased Lot No. 2 to Hosea Ballou, upon which 
he erected the cotton mill now standing thereon. 

I must be allowed to pause at this point, and briefly re- 
capitulate the business career of Hosea Ballou at this place. 
In 1826 he was connected with his brother George at Water- 
ford. April 2, 1827, he came to Woonsocket, and purchased 
a quarter right in the works on the "saw-mill lot." Febru- 
ary 6, 1828, he disposed of his right in the " saw-mill lot," 
and about this time* erected his brick mill on Lot No. 1. 
After his failure in 1829, the brick mill passed into the pos- 
session of his brother Dexter, and Hosea continued to manu- 
facture in the wooden mill then standing south of the brick 
mill, until its destruction by the great fire of April, 1835. 

*The brick mill was erected in 1827. 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKfeT. 143 

The following year, as before-mentioned, he leased Lot No. 
2 of Seagrave & Harris, and built the cotton mill which now 
stands thereon. June 14, 1846, he sold the mill to Edward 
Harris, who was the owjier of the land upon which it stood, 
and retired from the village. 

Lot Wo. 3. — Upon this lot stand the woolen mills of the 
Harris Woolen Company, which are situated on the easterly 
side of Main street. These are two in number, and named 
" Mill No. 2," built in 1840, and " Mill No. 4," built in 1846. 
The mill on the opposite side of the street, and named " Mill 
No. 3," was built in 1844, and originally stood on leased 
land. In these mills Mr. Harris earned his world-wide 
reputation as an American manufacturer. His large mill on 
Mill river, at the north end of the village, was completed 
and started in 1865. All these mills are now the property 
of the Harris Woolen Company, the officers of which are as 
follows : Oscar J. Rathbun, President ; Darius D. Farnum, 
Treasurer; Joseph E. Cole, Agent. Moses J. Chandler is 
Superintendent of the cotton mill. H. J. Kennedy is Super- 
intendent of the woolen mills on Main street. Newell A. 
Boutell is Superintendent of the woolen mill on Mill river. 

Lots JVos. 4 and 5. — On these lots stand the works of the 
Woonsocket Machine Company. This establishment until 
recently was known as the Woonsocket Furnace Company. 
I am now permitted to speak of two men who have done 
much to promote the interests of Woonsocket — I refer to 
Willis and his brother Lyman A. Cook. These gentlemen, 
now far advanced in life, and with a snug competency, are 
good types of the self-made men of New England. Fifty 
years ago, after learning their trade as machinists with Pale- 
mon Walcott at Valley Falls, tliey came to Woonsocket, and 
M'oiked at the bench for Mr. Thomas Arnold, who was then 
engaged in machine building in an establishment since known 
as the " Daniel N. Paine Mill," of which 1 shall speak in the 



144 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

next chapter. In 1828 tliey leased land on Lot No. 1, 
previously described, and began business for themselves. In 
this enterprise they were associated with the late "Willing 
Vose. After the destruction of their building by the great 
fire of 1835, they rebuilt on Lots 4 and 5, at first leased 
and afterwards purchased of the Arnold heirs. Soon after- 
wards Mr. Vose, feeling that manufacturing was overdone, 
retired and went into agricultural pursuits at the Globe, 
where he passed the remainder of his days. But the Cook 
brothers were undismayed by the serious outlook of 1837, 
and continued to look after their increasing business and 
their bills payable. They made extensions to their works 
from time to time, until at last the fame of the Woonsocket 
Furnace Company went out beyond the limits of the town. 

Willis is not engaged at present in active business, but his 
brother Lyman A., although threescore years and ten the 
15th of last December — with an erect form, a springing step 
and hardly a grey hair — continues in the exciting and turbu- 
lent arena of business with all the vigor and life of middle 
age. The works of the Woonsocket Furnace Company were 
purchased in January, 1868, by S. S. Cook, and the name 
was changed October 1, 1873, to the Woonsocket Machine 
Company. The President thereof is now Stephen N. 
Mason. Both of these gentlemen will be noticed farther 
on. 

Lot No. 6. — On this lot stands the Harris Institute block. 

Lot No. 7. — This lot is now owned and occupied by S. S. 
Foss, and upon it stands The Patriot building. This may 
seem to be a peculiar place to give the history of a literary 
institution. But this history is a peculiar one, and the in- 
stitution of which I am about to speak, is one of which the 
citizens of Woonsocket are justly proud — I refer to The 
Woonsocket Patriot. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 145 

During the existence of The Patriot there have been 
many literary enterprises which have lived in our midst. I 
will briefly allude to them. In 1835 the Rhode Island 
Advocate had a brief existence of nine months. This was 
published by Hapgood & Wilder. The latter gentleman was 
one of the original proprietors of The Patriot. In 1837 a 
"monthl}"" was started here. It was called the Rainbow. 
It was published by I. Robinson and edited by N. Robinson. 
It lived one 3'ear. During "Dorr times" the Independ- 
ent., a " free suffrage " paper, was removed from Providence 
to this place, and printed in the " Union building." It was 
published by Walter Sherman, and lived but a few months. 
In 1842 the Rhode Ishmd SeiitineU a Thomsonian paper, was 
published here by Mason & Vose. The Mr. Vose is our 
respected townsman, A. D. Vose. This existed two years. 
In 1850 the Neivs- Letter., published by Erastus Fisher, began 
and ended. In 18G4 the Farm and Fireside., edited and 
published by S. S. & G. W. Foss, was published one year — 
unappreciated by our agriculturists. In 1873 the Woon- 
socket Daily Reporter began, under the leadership of L. B. 
Pease. It still lives. 

The Patriot was born in 1833, in a building which is now 
a part of Fletcher's block. Its parents were Sherman & 
Wilder. The latter was the practical printer of the firm. 
Wilder soon afterwards retired, and commenced the publica- 
tion of the Rhode Inland Advocate, which has been previously 
alluded to. The editor and proprietor of The Patriot was 
now iMr. William N. Sherman. 

In the Spring of 1837 Mr. S, S. Foss began his apprentice- 
ship with Mr. Sherman. After serving his tliree years he 
l)ecame associate editor of the paper. In 1841 he was its 
sole proprietor. 

In 1855 the office was removed from Fletcher's (then 
Rathbun's) block to Waterman's block. In tlie Spring of 
19 



146 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKiiT. 

1805 Mr. Foss purchased the biiikUng. If we may judge 
by its very large circuhitioii, Tlie Woonsocket Patriot is now 
the best weekly paper published in New England. 

The Daily Patriot was started in the Spring of the present 
year (1876). It at once sprang into a prosperous existence, 
and is now a necessity to every Woonsocket citizen. As an 
important adjunct to this journal Mr. Foss constructed, at 
his own expense, an independent Telegraph line between 
Woonsocket and Providence. 

Waterman's block, -now called the "Patriot Building," 
was erected in 1846. 

Lots Nos. 8 and 9, on the easterly side of Main street, 
and Lot No. 13, on the o]3posite side of the street, are now 
occupied chiefly by the works of the Groton Manufacturing 
Company. The estate thus descends to its present owners. 
August 1, 1831, John W. Buffuni leased the land of the 
Arnold heirs. On this a mill was erected. Afterwards 
another mill was built. These mills have been honored 
with many names — at first as " Buffum's Mill," afterwards 
as "Law's mill" (from George Law, Avho was the manager 
and superintendent for many years. Mr. Law was a very 
estimable man. At the time of his death he was the Presi- 
dent of the Woonsocket Savings Institution). The works 
are now known as the Groton Manufacturing Company. 
August 20, 1835, the estate passed from Buffum to Peter J. 
Cook and Samuel Shove. From them it passed to A. D. &, 
J. Y. Smith. James Y. Smith retired a few years since 
from the concern. The Superintendent at the present time 
is George H. Grant. 

Lots Nos. 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16. — Upon these lots now 
stand the Clinton Mills, a portion of the Bailey Washing and 
Wringing Machine Company estate, and house-lots owned by 
various parties in the vicinity. The Clinton thus descends : 

INIarch 31, 1827, the Lyman heirs sold the lots above- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 147 

iiu'iilioiicd to Benjamin and Tlionias C. Hop])iii. Novenil)er 
], 1830, the Messrs. Hoppin conveyed to Edward Carrinj^ton. 
During the year 1882 Jolm H. Chirk became a partner of 
Carrington, and in 1845 he was sole proprietor. April .8 of 
this year Clark conveyed to George C. Ballon, Orin A. ]]al- 
lou, Samuel P. Rhodes and Peleg A. Rhodes. The Manager 
of the mills is now Edwin R. Thomas. 

I will now give a brief account of the Bade}' Washing and 
Wringing jNIachine Company. In the Autumn of 1863 Mr. 
S. S. Cook, a young man full of life and hope, began looking 
about him for a fortune. He had seen in the store of JMr. 
William H. Jenckes a new machine — one that no family can 
do without. It was a clothes-wringer. He sought and 
found the inventor thereof at Wrentham, Mass. It was 
Seldon A. Bailey, at that time a poor man, and manufactur- 
ing the machines in a small way. The result of the inter- 
view was the starting of the enterprise in the following 
Spring at Woonsocket. The business was begun in a wooden 
building then standing upon the "island." In the Summer 
of 1865 a company was organized, and soon afterAvards jNIr. 
John Paine Whipple was chosen Treasurer of the concern. 
The many virtues of tliis gentleman (who Avas cut off in tlie 
full blossom of life and of prosperity), his unblemished honor 
and business integrity, endeared him to all with whom he 
came in contact. Under his management the business in- 
creased, and the company Avere forced to look about them 
for more commodious quarters. In the Autumn of 1865 they 
purchased a building knoAvn as the Metcalf Machine Shop, 
and the folloA;ving Spring removed to their new (quarters, in 
Avhich the Avorks are noAv located. 

This Machine shop Avas built in tlie year 1846 by 
AVhipple and William J\letcall'. Previous to this time the 
Messrs. Metcalf had built machinery in a part of the Globe 
Mills, and afteiAvards in the basement of the Harrison (noAv 



148 niSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 

tlie Lipj)itt) Mill. In their new shop they did not prosper 
as they did in their former places of business, and August 
25, 1856, they were forced to sell their property. The pur- 
chasers were Messrs. W. & L. A, Cook, who sold the estab- 
lishment to the Bailey Washing and Wringing Machine 
Company, as before-mentioned. The President of the last- 
mentioned concern at this time was Lyman A. Cook. 

But the restlessness of Mr. S. S. Cook could not be con- 
fined to one thing. The rubber rolls for the wringers, at 
first made by an outside party, were unsatisfactory, and he 
at once started the project of manufacturing rubber at Woon- 
socket. The Rubber Works were started in the Autumn of 
1864. 

Both the Wringing Machine Company and the Rubber 
Works have added much to the growth and prosperity of 
our village. To the energy of Mr. Simeon S. Cook their 
origin is largely due. Mr. Cook afterwards disposed of his 
interests in these two enterprises ; and in January, 1868, 
purchased the Woonsocket Furnace Company's works on 
Lots 4 and 5, of Messrs. W. & L. A. Cook. In the manage- 
ment of this concern he exhibited the same untiring energy. 
The works were enlarged and the business placed at once on 
a firm and prosperous basis. Meeting with reverses else- 
where, his efforts are paralj'zed for the time being. That 
he may eventually come out of his difficulties, is the earnest 
wish of every friend of Woonsocket enterprise. 

But if the birth of the Baile}'' Washing and Wringing 
Machine Company and the Rubber Company is due to the 
enterprise of Mr. S. S. Cook, their subsequent growth and 
prosperity have been almost entirely owing to the energy, the 
perseverance and the capital of Mr. Lyman A. Cook. I have 
wandered somewhat from the "Arnold and Lyman pur- 
chase " in my description thereof, but as I have done so in 
the interest of the reader, I trust that I shall be excused. I 
have now to dispose of 



HISTOIIY OF WOONSOCKET. l40 

Lots Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 20.— I will simpl}^ tell where 
they are : If the reader will start on Main street at a point 
op2'Osite the Lippitt ]\Iill and walk to High street, go np 
High street forty rods and eighteen links, and from this 
point take a bee line (if he can) to his point of departure, 
he will u'o around the lots mentioned. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE FIRST PURCHASE OF DAN A. DANIELS. 

You will remember that April 25, 1821, James Arnold 
sold to Dan A. Daniels a large tract of land. This was on 
the Cumberland side of the river, and on it are now the fol- 
lowing estates : 

I. The Bartlett Mill and estate. 

II. The new purchase of the Lippitt Woolen Company on 
the southerly side of Bernon street, and the eastern portion 
of the Harris Woolen Company's estate. 

III. The Mason Soap Works estate. 

IV. The Cumberland portion of the Woonsocket Com- 
pany's estate. 

When Mr. Daniels purchased this property there were two 
Imildings thereon. One of these stood where Holder's block 
was afterwards erected ; the other is now occupied by the 
Kendrick Loom Harness Company. The former is what I 
have denominated in Chapter HI. as the second building of 
James Arnold, and was erected in 1810 ; the latter is what 
was called the sixth building of James Arnold, and was 
erected in 1817. Mr. Daniels was a protege of James Arnold. 
He was the son of Mr. Arnold's first wife's sister, and the 



150 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

Imsband of Eliza Arnold, the daughter of James Arnold's 
sister. After purchasing the property of liis nncle James, 
he continued his business as merchant on the premises. His 
store has heen previously described, and stood where the 
Woonsocket Falls Bank building was afterwards erected. 
The first improvement on the estate was made by Thomas 
Arnold. This man was a machine builder, and occupied at 
first the Kendrick Loom Harness building. About the year 
1823 he leased a lot of Mr. Daniels, and built wdiat was 
afterwards known as the " Daniel N. Paine Mill," where he 
continued his business for many years. 

About the year 1826 a man by the name of Edmund Bacon 
built an iron foundry, near where Pond's Warp Mill is now 
located, on lands leased of Mr. Daniels. His partners for a 
short time were Thomas A. Paine and Marvel Shove. In 
1827 these last-named gentlemen sold out their rights in the 
concern to Rufus Arnold. The firm was now known as 
Bacon & Arnold. They made a specialty of flat irons, which 
they finished in the basement of the " Ballon Mill," on the 
" saw-mill lot." For a short time James Bacon, the brother 
of Edmund, manufactured cotton-j^arn in the last-mentioned 
building. Upon the failure of Bacon & Arnold, the iron 
foundry became the property of W. & L. A. Cook and Will- 
ing Vose, and was removed to Lots 4 and 5, previously 
described. 

In the year 1827 Mr. Daniels built a stone mill on the 
estate which is now known as the " Bartlett Mill." In the 
year 1829 Mr. Daniels, in common with nearly every other 
Rhode Island cotton-spinner, went under. He made an 
assignment of his property to Joseph Rockwood, of Belling- 
ham. In the meantime he had sold to Edward Carrington a 
portion of the estate which we are now discussing, through 
which flowed the surging billows of the Blackstone Canal. 
He had also purchased of his uncle James what is now 



MISTORY OF -WOONSOCKET. • 15l 

known as the Bernon estute, on the Smithfield .side of the 
river, and of which I shall speak at length further on. 

March 30, 1831, the Cumberland and the Smithfield estates 
of Dan A. Daniels became the property of Sullivan Dorr and 
Crawford Allen. 

I will now endeavor to give the subdivisions of the Cum- 
berland portion of this estate in the order laid- out at the 
beginning of this chapter. 

I. The Bartlett Mill and Estate. The reader will })lease 
remember that the whole is now (1831) in the possession of 
Messrs. Dorr & Allen. 

1. July 22, 1831, Dorr & Allen conveyed to Lemuel Ma3^ 

2. Julv 3, 1840, May conveyed to John Bartlett. 

3. September 8, 185G, Bartlett conveyed to Nathan A. 
Capron. 

4. August 19, 18G2, Capron conveyed to James P. Ray 
and Stephen Clarke. 

5. October 2, 1863, Clarke conveyed his right therein to 
Susan K.,the wife of James P. Ray aforesaid. The pro})erty 
is now owned by James P. Ray and wife. 

Please don't let me confuse you, gentle reader. The 
property at present owned by James P. Ray and wife is not 
the whole of the subdivision of which I began to speak. 

When Lemuel May became its proprietor in 1831, a long, 
narrow building was situated thereon. It was then a store- 
house or a depot for the canal. 

1. June 21, 1834, May reconveyed the building and the 
ground upon which it stood to Dorr & Allen. 

2. April 14, 1840, Dorr & Allen conveyed to W. & W. 
Metcalf. 

3. The Messrs. Metcalf conveyed to Tyler Daniels. 

4. Daniels conveyed to Anthony S. Fletcher. 

;*). Fletcher conveyed to the father of Charles IL Steb- 
l>his, who was its last occupant, and who used it as a 
bowling alley, rum shop, etc. 



152 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

6. Stebbins conveyed to the Lippitt Woolen Company, 
who removed the building to make room for their new brick 
building which now adorns the spot. The building was cut 
in two. A portion is now a dwelling-house in Armory street. 
Another portion is now situated on Allen street. 

II. The next division of the estate is now the new pur- 
chase of the Lippitt Woolen Company on the southerly side 
of Bernon street and the eastern portion of the Harris Woolen 
(Company's estate. Its descent is as follows : 

1. February 4, 1832, Dorr & Allen conveyed to Darius 
Sibley. March 7, 1836, Sibley, in company with D. N. Paine 
and Osmond Hathaway, enlarged the building which stood 
on the ground, extending it over the "gangway" which was 
in the rear thereof, and went into manufacturing. This en- 
terprise was not successful. 

2. June 19, 1841, it became the property of Spencer 
Mowry. 

3 Mowry conveyed to W. & W. IMetcalf. 

4. The Messrs. Metcalf conveyed to Aaron Rathbun. 

5. May 26, 1847, Rathbun conveyed to Edward Harris. 

6. September 21, 1835, the road to Bernon, now known 
as Bernon street, was laid out. Previous to this time the 
road to that part of the world was the " gangway " in the 
rear of the D. N. Paine Mill. The portion of this sub- 
division, which is upon the northerly side of the street, and 
upon which at one time stood a blacksmith's shop and other 
out-buildings, is still in the hands of the Harris Woolen 
Company. 

The portion upon the southerly side of the street was con- 
veyed May 23, 1872, by the Harris Woolen Company to the 
Lippitt Woolen Company. The old D. N. Paine Mill which 
stood thereon has been removed to Armory street, and a 
massive brick structure now occupies its site. 

III. The 3Iason Soaj) WorJcs Estate. I am now permitted 



HISTORY OP WOONSOCKET. 153 

to speak of a citizen whom every Woonsockct citizen delights 
to honor — I refer to the Hon. Stephen N. Mason. This 
gentleman came to Woonsocket in the Autumn of 1837, with 
about twenty-five dollars in his pocket. The following 
Spring his brother William came to the village, and thus 
originated the firm of W. & S.N. Mason. The two brothers 
continued in business until March, 1843, when William re- 
tired, and Stephen continued the business as sole proprietor. 

Both William and Stephen were ardent "free suffrage" 
men during the exciting times of the Dorr War. In Decem- 
ber, 1841, the destruction of their works by fire prevented 
Stephen from fulfilling an engagement to speak at Valley 
Falls in company with the late Colonel Welcome B. Sayles. 
Colonel Sayles afterwards referred to the fire as a lucky 
event for his friend. The works were soon rebuilt, and have 
been in successful operation until now. 

Mr. Mason removed from our village to Providence during 
the present Summer. In his departure Woonsocket has met 
with a serious loss. He has represented this section in the 
Senate and served with honor in other public capacities. In 
1861 he was candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of the State. 
As an upright, honorable and Christian citizen he had but 
few equals and no superiors in this section. 

The estate is now owned by JNIessrs. G. F. Davis & Com- 
pany. 

IV. The Cumberland portion of the estate of the Woon- 
socket Company is now leased and occupied by various 
parties. The largest establishment thereon is the Pond Warp 
Manufacturing Company. Its lessee is the Hon. Daniel B. 
Pond. This gentleman has often been chosen to represent 
the town in the General Assembly, and has held other re- 
sponsible public positions. He is justly held in high esteem 
by his fellow-townsmen. Mr. Samuel Hodgson now occu- 
pies a portion of the works in the manufacture of woolen 
goods. 20 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE "GLOBE," THE " BERNOX " AND THE "ISLAND." 

The Globe. — The reader lias not forgotten that June 1, 
1827, James Arnold sold a large estate to Thomas Arnold, 
Thomas A. Paine and Marvel Shove. These gentlemen 
were the original ^proprietors of the Globe Manufacturing- 
Company. The company soon afterwards erected the first 
cotton mill in that vicinity. During the misfortunes of 1829 
the company failed, and the property passed into the hands 
of Samuel Shove. 

2. In 1834 it became the property of Thomas Sprague & 
Sons. 

3. Subsequently Edward H. Sprague — one of the sons — 
at different times bought out his partners, and in 1816 be- 
came sole owner. 

4. In 1854 Edward H. Sprague deeded the estate to B. 
R. Vaughan and George C. Ballon. 

5. In 1864 George C. Ballon became sole owner of the 
property. 

Until quite recently it formed a part of the assets of the 
Ballon Manufacturing Company. The new stone mill of this 
concern, which stands on this estate, was completed in 1873. 
August 4 of this year (1873) Mr. George C. Ballon, in per- 
son, fed the first cotton upon the moving apron of the lapper 
in this mill. 

Soon after the death of Mr. Ballon, the extreme depression 
in business forced his heirs to make an assignment of their 
lar^-e estate. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 155 

October 25, 1876, the Globe estate — comprising the okl 
mill, which contained 8,570 spindles, and the magnificent 
new mill, containing 35,392 spindles — was sold at auction. 
It was purchased by the Social ]\Ianufacturing Company for 
1363,000. 

By this sale the creditors of the estate did no!: realize as 
much as they reasonably anticipated ; but the citizens of 
AVoonsocket may well congratulate themselves that the pi'op- 
erty has passed into the hands of a corporation which has 
done so much to promote their welfare and prosperity. 

The moving spirit of not only the Social Manufacturing 
Company, but also of the Lippitt Woolen Company, is Henry 
Lippitt, the present Governor of Rhode Island. 

It is well to say, in this connection, that the assignees of 
the Ballou property — consisting of Charles H. Merriman 
(a member of the firm of H. Lippitt & Company), Addison 
Q. Fisher and Josiah Lasell, who were the largest creditors 
of the firm previous to the auction sale — sold to the heirs of 
George C. Ballou the mill standing on the "old saw-mill 
lot" and the surrounding estate, where this estimable gentle- 
man, in a life-time of honesty and frugality, accumulated his 
large fortune and won the love and respect of his fellow- 
citizens. 

Bernon. — Bernon did not receive its name until after it 
became the proj)erty of Dorr & Allen. Before that time it 
was known by the name, or the nick-name, of " Danville." 
The estate upon which the mills are located was purchased 
of James Arnold by Dan A. Daniels, October 20, 1827. Mr. 
Daniels was connected in business at this place with a man 
by the name of Jonathan Russell, of wdiom I shall speak in 
a subsequent chapter. The name of the firm was the Russell 
Manufacturing Company. The first mill was built in 1827. 
The name of the Corporation is now the Woonsocket Com- 
pan3\ This was incorporated at the January'- session of 1832, 



156 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

That ideas of order, neatness and home could exist among 
those whom circumstances had pLaced in the lower strata of 
society, had escaped the notice of many of the American 
manufacturers. But Dorr & Allen conceived the notion that 
the help were quite different from the machinery which they 
operated; and seconded by Samuel Greene, who for many 
years was their agent and manager at this place, they in- 
augurated a new order of things, and created not only 
mills but a village. Broad avenues were laid out, trees 
planted beside them, and tenement houses were erected 
with a view to order, beauty and convenience. Having 
created a village, the next thing was to give it a name — one 
that should not only be euphoneous, but that should repre- 
sent an idea as well. The name which they selected was 
" Bernon " — from Gabriel Bernon, a man not only celebrated 
in history as a victim of the sanguinary religious persecu- 
tions of his time, but who was also the ancestor of one of. 
the members of the firm and of the wife of their manager. 
(See Harris genealogy in the appendix.) Samuel Greene 
was agent and superintendent of the concern (in later years 
assisted by his son Paul) until 1868. In October of this 
year he passed away, sincerely mourned by a large circle of 
friends. He was a highly-esteemed member of the Woon- 
socket Commandery of Knights Templar, and was the first 
to be buried under its auspices. 

In 1871, u]3on the retirement and death of the treasurer, 
Crawford Allen, the Bernon estate came under the manage- 
ment of Moses B. I. Goddard. Under him the mills have 
been enlarged and improved, and now contain 15,000 spindles 
and 337 looms, in the manufacture of 64x64 print goods. 
The agents are Messrs. A. D. Lockwood & Company. The 
superintendent is R. G. Cornell. 

I embrace the present opportunity to speak of a gentleman 
who is held in high esteem by many of our townsmen. I 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 157 

yqXcv to Colonel L. C. Tourtellot. Up to 1849 he acted as 
master mecliaiiic at the Bernon. At this time the "Colonel" 
removed to Albion and assumed the siij)erintendency at that 
place. He remained there until 1857. He is now the man- 
ager of Ray's mills in this village. Like the original pro- 
prietors of Bernon, the " Colonel " is a descendant of one of 
tlie Huguenot refugees. The sterling qualities of Mr. Tour- 
tellot have endeared him to a large circle of friends. His 
habits of order have rendered him one of the most efficient 
military officers as well as skillful mill managers in this sec- 
tion. His war record is a part of the history of the 3d R. I. 
Regiment. As a man, a Mason, a Christian and a soldier, 
he will be long remembered. 

The Island. — I have now traced down the greater portion 
of the inheritance of James Arnold into the hands of its 
})resent occupants and proprietors. At the time of his death 
there was but little real estate standing in his name. This 
was situated in the vicinity of the " Falls." A portion of 
this is what is known in these days as the "island." This 
was purchased by Edward Harris, July 15, 1843, for the sum 
of eight hundred dollars. It proved to be one of the most 
fortunate speculations of this far-seeing man. 

Among the works which are located thereon, the largest 
are the Woonsocket Rubber Works — to which I have alluded 
in a former chapter — and the American Worsted Company. 

In the year 1866 a young clerk, in the employ of Mr. John 
Currier, began looking about him for something in which he 
might have more scope for his energy and talents. The 
young man was Mr. W. H. S. Smith. He, in connection 
with Mr. R. G. Randall, entered into the manufacture of 
worsted braids in a wooden building then standing on the 
island. During the two years in which the works continued 
in this building they were eminently successful, and in 1868 
Mr. George C. Ballon erected the stone mill in which the 



158 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

business is now conducted. The concern was incorporated 
during this year, and is now known as the American Worsted 
Company. Mr. Smith was cut off by death while the estab- 
lishment which owed its existence to his energy and skill, 
was in the full tide of prosperity. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

EDWARD HARRIS. 

" Somewhere about forty years ago, while standing upon 
the capstone of a lock of the old Blackstone Canal in Woon- 
socket, a tall, slim young man came up to me and commenced 
a conversation upon business, the canal, etc., which inter- 
ested me ver}' much. There was nothing in his person that 
would particularly interest a stranger, except his green and 
boyish appearance. For several days I saw him about the 
neighborhood, silently and quietly walking about. At last, 
very much to my surprise, I learned that he had purchased 
a small mill of eight or ten looms, and intended to manufac- 
ture satinets." 

The foregoing is an extract from a communication which 
was printed some four or five years since in The Woonsoeket 
Patriot, and is a description of the "first appearance" of 
Edward Harris upon the stage where he afterwards became 
so prominent an actor. 

Edward Harris was born October 3, 1801, at Lime Rock, 
R. I. The house in Avhich the event occurred is in the 
vicinity of the Baptist Meeting-house at that place. It is 
now owned by Mr. Patrick Whalan. During his childhood 
his parents removed to Dutchess county. New York, and 
afterwards to Ashtabula county, Ohio. Here the oppor- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 15 & 

tunities for acquiring the ease of manner and grace of 
deportment which so distinguished other members of liis 
family, were quite limited. But if he lacked the mental 
training, which is one of the elements of success in life, his 
physical powers, without which the former too often fails of 
its end, had an ample iield for development. Had his earl}^ 
training been different, he might have passed through life 
quite as successfully and far more easily. Had the sharp 
edges of his character been a little more polished — had he 
acquired the art of having his own way by making it to 
appear that others were having theirs, he might not have 
been a better man, but his enemies would have liad less to 
say against him. 

In the year 1822 he emerged from the backwoods and 
entered the office of his uncle William at Valley Falls. For 
the instruction and the amusement of many of my Valley 
Falls friends who will be subscribers to this history, I will 
pause at this point, and give a description of that region as 
it was when Edward Harris first made it his home. 

Valley Falls at that time was far more picturesque than at 
present. The advance of civilization has robbed it of its 
natural beauties. The alders that fringed its glassy pond 
and the groves that adorned its hills, have been ruthlessly 
swept away. It has been blackened by a hideous and un- 
productive coal-mine, cut in pieces by a noisy railroad, and 
defiled by smoky workshops and inisightly buildings. In 
some localities I have thought it to bear a striking resem- 
blance to the face of the earth Avhcn the ark stranded on 
Mount Ararat. 

There were two roads that passed through the region. 
One of these was the ancient Rehoboth road, to which I 
liave referred. This at first came up from the wading-place 
on the Abbott Run river, wound among the hills in the 
vicinity of Blackbird Pond, and so proceeded north. It was 



160 HiSTOKY 0]F WOOKSOCKET. 

afterwards relaicl a few rods to the west, forming, as many 
of my Valley Falls friends will remember with watery 
mouths, an avenue, in after times, to " Lovett's " and " Bob 
Lees." The other road was afterwards a " turnpike," and 
is now Broad street. These two roads were connected on 
the Cumberland side of the river by a private way, which 
came out of the last-mentioned road near where now stands 
the Baptist Meeting-house, went over the hill where stood 
the mansion of William Harris, and intersected with the 
Rehoboth road at " Happy Hollow." 

On the Smithfield side of the river stood a stone mill. 
The size of this mill was 40x110 feet. It was owned and 
run by Abraham & Isaac Wilkinson. Between this mill and 
the river stood another small stone mill. 

On the Cumberland side of the river, and on the site of 
the present stone mill in that localitj^ stood a wooden mill 
36x110 feet in size. This was occupied by William Harris 
in the manufacture of cotton cloth, and by Otis Walcott, a 
machine builder. 

On the estate now owned by the Abbott Run Company, 
at Happy Hollow, was a small wooden mill, which is now 
standing. This was owned and occupied by Crawford Titus. 

These mills, a few tenement houses, the homesteads of the 
Jenckes (the original proprietors of the Smithfield estate) 
and of John Grant, the former owner of the Cumberland 
property, completed tlie edifices in the place. 

In a little one-story building now standing on Broad 
street, opposite the cottage of Mr. J. W. Tillinghast, the 
present book-keeper of the Valley Falls Company, lived the 
book-keeper of William Harris at the time of which I am 
writing. This house now stands in the centre of a wealthy 
and cultured neighborhood. On either hand are costly 
residences, and in front is a beautiful avenue. But then it 
was in the midst of a dark and lonely wilderness. To this 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 161 

house Edward Harris was a frequent visitor, and beiug full 
of life and good humor, he was a very welcome guest. Tlie 
book-keeper, who had seen better days, and the young man 
who was destined to see greater prosperity, became iirra 
friends. How often have I heard Mr. Harris speak of the 
old book-keeper in terms of the deepest respect, and how 
often have I heard the old book-keeper refer to Edward's 
fondness for the game of whist, wath which the long Winter 
evenings were whiled away in that lonely spot. 

Upon Edward's arrival at Vallc}^ Falls, with the snug 
little capital of tAventy-five cents in his pocket, he became 
an inmate of the family of Otis Walcott. The wages and 
the attention which he received from his uncle during his 
stay at this place were anything but flattering — the one 
being absorbed by his board and clothes, and the other not 
being sufficient to excite the jealousy of the humblest laborer 
on the premises. 

William Harris managed men and things in the same 
manner. He inversed the ancient maxim, and made it to 
read — " Take care of the dollars and the cents will take care 
of themselves." He could drive a sharp bargain for a supply 
of cotton, but he w^as blind to the cotton w^aste which fringed 
the margin of the river. He could appreciate diamonds, 
after they had been ground and polished, but he had no time 
or inclination to do the polishing. 

At last, a something about the young man attracted the 
notice of Abraham & Isaac Wilkinson, who run the Smith- 
field mills — whetlier it w^as his ringing laugh, his sharp eye 
or his willingness to work, is immaterial — and they offered 
him employment at the magnificent wages of one dollar per 
day. The future millionaire of Woon socket made immediate 
preparations to leave the counting-room of his uncle. But 
his uncle, wdio was quick to appreciate merit after some one 
else had discovered it, })revaiU'd upon Edward to continue in 
his employ, and he was sent to the Albion Village. 21 



162 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

This was in the Summer of 1824. The Albion mills were 
then occupied as follows : One-fourth b}^ William Harris, and 
three-fourths by Samuel B. Harris, Abraluim & Isaac Wilkin- 
son. Edward worked for his uncle William at this place but 
a brief season, and within a year began to work for his uncle 
Samuel, wlio acted as agent of three-fourths of the Albion 
mills. He at first received but one dollar and thirty-three 
cents per day for his services, but was soon promoted to the 
superintendency of the works, which position he retained 
until the Autumn of 1828. 

In the month of November, 1828, he assumed the agency 
of the Harris Lime Rock Company, where he remained until 
November 1, 1830. The total amount which he received 
for his services at this place was $1,601 32. He was now 
twenty-nine years of age. His capital of " 25 cents " had 
increased to 2,500 dollars. With this amount, and $1,000 
borrowed of his father, he set out to begin business on his 
own account. 

March 26, 1831, he began the manufacture of satinets at 
Woonsocket, in the mill which I have previously described. 

Mr. Harris lived to enjoy the well-earned reputation of 
being the chief woolen manufacturer in the United States. 
He died November 24, 1872. 

That Edward Harris was endowed with extraordinary 
gifts, his bitterest enemy was forced to admit, and the most 
superficial observer could not fail to perceive. His stalwart 
though stooping form, his keen eye, his full face, his large 
and well-developed head, his nervous and elastic step, his 
clear and ringing voice, revealed energy, determination, 
power ! But to his wonderful knowledge of human nature, 
his Napoleonic faculty of detecting at a glance the strong 
and the weak points of men, his eminent success is mainly 
due. By this gift he was enabled not only to secure the best 
talent to assist him in his various enterprises, but to extract 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 163 

from every one with whom he came in contact, something 
Avhieli he might appropriate to useful ends. No one was too 
high or too low for Mr. Harris to converse with in the most 
familiar terms. Charles Sumner and Aleck the barber, Hor- 
ace Greeley and John the coachman, Abraham Lincoln and 
Michael the picker-tender — each and all contributed some- 
thing to his granary. The number of those who indulged 
in the dream that they were sharing his inmost thoughts, it 
is laughable to contemplate, for if ever a man kept his own 
counsels, that man was Edward Harris. The surprising 
thing is, that from the vast amount of "advice" which he 
received, he hardly ever failed to extract the wheat from the 
chaff. 

To Edward Harris, Woonsocket owes an everlasting debt 
of gratitude. The impetus which he imparted to the growth 
and prosperity of the village will be felt for many genera- 
tions, and the Harris Institute block and Library Avill stand 
as a glorious monument to his generosity and public spirit. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE HAMLET. 

I REALLY intend to say much of the Hamlet when I get 
to it. But just at this present time I purpose to tell you a 
story, which you may skip if you choose, and perhaps by 
tliat means get to the Hamlet before I do. 

On tlie 7th of October, 1823, a young Irishman arrived at 
Boston. No bells were rung or cannon fired to his lienor- 
when the ship upon which he stood approached the Avliarf ; 
and so, unlike those in whose honor bells are rung and can- 
non fired, our hero was free to go wherever he pleased. He 



164 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

went in pursuit of something to do ; and being endowed with 
an iron constitution, an abundant stock of genuine Irish wit, 
and a very small amount of money, he was not long in finding 
what he sought. To the thousands of his fellow-countrymen 
thus gifted in mind, body and estate — to their wit, their 
muscle and their poverty — the development of our natural 
resources, and the consequent progress of our nation during 
the last fifty years, is mainly due. 

Our friend worked at Boston but a short time. His occu- 
pation of hod-carrying and his fellow-laborers did not please 
him ; and so, early one morning, he packed his scanty ward- 
robe, paid his board bill, and started on foot for no particular 
point, only that it be away from Boston and its hod-carriers. 
Night overtook him at a farm-house, near " Crook's." The 
next day and night he passed in Woonsocket, and the day 
following, at four o'clock P. M., he arrived at Providence. 
Here he remained during the Winter without permanent 
employment. The following Spring, learning of a " wood- 
cutting " job in the vicinity of Attleborough, he started for 
that place. 

On his way thither, between the village of Pawtucket and 
the toll-gate on the turnpike, he was overtaken by a man 
who had something to say to him which it was pleasant to 
hear. The stranger was a stout, thick-set man. His eye glis- 
tened with shrewdness and sagacity ; his face, round, full 
and florid, revealed his appreciation of a good dinner, and 
his bearing was of one who seemed to know and feel his 
position. It was a meeting of two men widely separated 
from each other in social position, but closely connected in 
the bread-and-butter relationships — a meeting of the laborer 
and the capitalist — of Michael Reddy and General Carring- 
ton. A bargain was soon completed between these two 
persons, and Michael at once entered upon his duties, which 
at first were confined to the house and the store of the Gen- 
eral at Providence. 



lUSTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 105 

About tliis time a stapendoiis work was in progress. The 
manager of the work was General Carrington, and the work 
itself was the erection or the excavation of the Blackstone 
Canal. Whether the real end and aim of this enterprise was 
to facilitate transportation between Providence and Worces- 
ter, or to develop the water-power of the Blackstone river, 
were questions in which Michael had not the remotest inter- 
est. It was sufficient to him that he had plenty of work to 
do and fair pay for it; and so, in the Summer of 1825, he 
began his labors at Providence, and dug his way through 
from the "shingle bridge" to Woonsocket, arriving in the 
Fall of 1826, where he has remained ever since. 

The route of this maritime curiosity — the Blackstone 
Canal — through these parts was as follows : At a point near 
the planing works of Charles B. Aldrich, its waters emerged 
from the river, re-entering the parent stream a short distaiice 
above where Dr. Ballou's bridge is now situated. Just 
above the dam at the " Falls " it took a second departure, 
crossing Main street where Greene's block now stands. The 
present boundary-line between the Lippitt Woolen Company 
and the Woonsocket Company on Armory street, represents 
a line through the centre of the locks which were at this 
place. Proceeding now through the " meadows " in the rear 
of the Lippitt and Harris mills, it re-entered the river near 
where the railroad bridge is now located. At this point a 
tow-bridge was erected to the Smithfield side of the river, 
and the river was navigated to what is now called the 
Hamlet dam. Here the canal again diverged from the river, 
and entered it again a short distance above the Hamlet mills. 

To narrate the scenes and incidents of a voyage over this 
expensive highway from Woonsocket to Albion, would be a 
tribute to dullness which I shall not venture to give. I have 
only to say, on the authority of a very respected friend, that 
it was " a day's journey." 



166 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

But if for the transportation of merchandise and passen- 
gers the Blackstone Canal was a gigantic failure, for the 
development and improvement of the water-power of the 
Blackstone river, it was a magnificent success. In April, 
1846, the Massachusetts portion of the canal was sold to the 
Providence & Worcester Railroad for $22,500. By this 
operation the stockholders thereof realized their first and 
only dividend, which was one dollar per share. In Rhode 
Island the property reverted to the original holders of the 
estates through which it passed. 

The Hamlet is an offspring of the Blackstone Canal. I 
have now the pleasure to recall one of whom all speak with 
the deepest respect — whose courtesy and kindness endeared 
him to every one who came within the circle of his acquaint- 
ance, whose taste and refinement are still visible in the 
works which he has left behind him, and whose habits of 
thought and study peculiarly unfitted him to be a successful 
manufacturer — I refer to Stephen H. Smith. This man, 
acting at first as the agent of General Carrington, purchased 
the following estates: January 27, 1825, of Seth Appleby, 
and on the same day of Smith Arnold; September 14, of 
Smith Arnold ; March 29, 1826, and again on December 8, 
of Joseph Wilkinson. Upon these estates the Hamlet works 
are located. Mr. Smith remained at the head of the concern 
until 1842. Edward Carrington died the following year. 
The next manager of the Hamlet mills and estate was Mr. 
George S. Wardwell. He continued in position until March, 
1859. The benevolence and public spirit of this gentleman 
are still held in grateful remembrance. 

In March, 1859, the Hamlet came into the possession of 
Isaac M. Bull, its present owner. In his younger days Mr. 
Bull was clerk in the store of his uncle (the late General 
Carrington), at Providence. In 1827, and while in his em- 
ploy, he went to China, where he remained the greater por- 



HISTORY or WOONSOCKET. 161 

tion of the time until 1847. In his manner and address Mr. 
Bull is a gentleman of tlie old school. Under his intelligent 
supervision the mills have been eminently successful. Tlic 
•superintendent of the works is Hon. John A. Bennett. This 
man has been repeatedly chosen a member of our Town 
Council, and is now one of our representatives to the Gen- 
eral Assembly. 



CHAPTER X. 

HARD TIMES. 

To DESCRIBE a storm, when the ship in which we are is 
being lashed by the merciless waves and beaten by the howl- 
ing winds, is not a pleasant task. One naturally turns to 
more peaceful scenes, when all the sails are spread to the 
welcome breeze and the bosom of the sea is undisturbed. 
I shall therefore, gentle reader, make this chapter as brief as 
possible. For I have had enough of hard times. Haven't 
you? 

1. Up to 1815 the manufacturers had reaped a few golden 
harvests. Our war with the mother country had lessened 
the supply and increased the demand for their productions, 
and mills went up on every hand. But the same breeze that 
wafted to our shores the sweet tones of peace, brought to us 
also the products of foreign looms. Mills were closed, busi- 
ness was suspended, and fortunes vanished more speedily 
than they had arisen. To deepen the gloom, New England 
was visited in September of this year by one of the most ter- 
rific storms that ever swept the coast. So terrible Avas the 
fury of the gale that the spray from the ocean was blown 



168 EtISTORY OP "WOONSOCKET. 

inland as far as Woonsocket. At this place, and even ten 
miles farther north, the salt drops of the sea Avere perceptible 
to the taste upon the grass and fruit. Forests were over- 
turned, highways blocked up with fallen trees, orchards 
stripped of their wealth and meadows converted into a waste. 

The following year we were overtaken by a still greater 
calamity. There was a severe frost in every month in the 
year. Ice formed an inch in thickness even in the month of 
July. The corn, potato and grass crops were almost totally 
cut off. In those days of deficient transportation facilities, 
and when New England was dependent in a great measure 
upon its own productions, it must indeed have been "hard 
times." During two years comparatively nothing was done. 
At last, matters began to assume a more cheerful aspect. 
With the returning Spring the trees put forth their leaves, 
within the warm embrace of Summer the meadows became 
pregnant, and once again the empty store-houses of the 
farmer were replenished. At this time two men — then 
young, vigorous and full of hope — put their shoulders to the 
wheel ; and when Welcome Farnum and Dexter Ballou 
pushed, something moved ! The mills began to start and 
the wheels of industry to revolve. It is a matter for regret 
that the former gentleman, in his early years, removed from 
this place ; for although fifty years have passed since he left 
the scenes of his first fond wooing of the smiles of fortune, 
the impetus which his labors gave to the growth and pros- 
perity of our village is still perceptibly felt. 

2. From 1815 to 1829 the "factory system" was the 
burden of everybody's speech. Tlie bar-room of the tavern, 
the rostrum of the orator, and the halls of legislation were 
full of it. But the fun of the thing was in the fact that 
there was no system whatever about it. Farmers, black- 
smiths, tanners — Tom, Dick and Harry — had tumbled head- 
long into it, apparently unconscious that system, skill and 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 169 

knowledge of the business were at all necessary to its 
successful and profitable development. There were mills, 
machinery, cotton and labor, which, if properly handled, 
would have produced handsome results. But the efHuvia 
and the architecture of the mills were infernal, the arrange- 
ment of the machinery a matter of the smallest concern ; so 
much of the stock as did not fringe the margin of the river 
with a fleecy border, got into the goods, and the help who 

nominally worked hours enough, were in the mills 

when not out of them. But notwithstanding all this, the 
impending disaster would have been averted had tlie thought 
and energy of many of the manufacturers been devoted to 
the economical management rather than to the extension of 
tlieir business. Up to the very morning of the cataclysm 
cotton fabrics were made and sold at a fair profit. I derive 
this from the lips of a very intelligeiit gentleman who was 
engaged in manufacturing at the time, and from statistics 
which show cotton to have been lie. and 13c. per pound, 
and goods 8c. and 9c. per yard — a handsome margin, even 
taking into account the mills and machinery of the times 
and the slip-shod manner of running them. The cause of 
the disaster is in a nut-shell — the returns from the " factory 
system " were too slow for many of the fast men who man- 
aged it. 

While Samuel Slater was accumulating his snug little for- 
tune of a million of dollars in tlie j)rudent management of 
his business, Abraham & Isaac Wilkinson were spending the 
earnings of their mills, and all tlie money which they could 
l)orrow, in building factories and macliine shops at Provi- 
dence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Valley Falls, and else- 
where, and in purchasing water privileges, wood-lots, farms, 
dwelling-houses and taverns, throughout the length and 
breadth of the Blackstone valley. A commercial crisis, 
therefore, occurred in 1829, the effects of which are felt 
even to this day. 22 



170 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

The events which followed the failure of the Wilkinsons 
form a dark picture in the history of Rhode Island. Hun- 
dreds of homes were sold by the Sheriff under executions, 
and one hundred and forty-nine poor men were imprisoned 
for debts which it was impossible for them to pay. The 
hard earnings of the poor laborer which he had deposited in 
the hands of his wealthy neighbor were swept away, and 
sorrow and suffering were carried into the cottage of the 
widow and the orphan. 

But condemn as we may the ambition of those who were 
the immediate causes of the catastrophe, we cannot call in 
question the honor and integrity of many who were thereby 
for(3ed to the wall. 

Among the Woonsocket sufferers of 1829 were — Samuel 
B. Harris, who owned the estates upon which the Harris 
Woolen Mills on Main street and the Harris Institute block 
now stand; -Thomas A. Paine, Thomas Arnold and Marvel 
Shove, who owned the " Globe" estate ; Hosea Ballou, who 
run a mill on lands now owned by the Lippitt Woolen Com- 
pany ; Dan A. Daniels and Jonathan Russell. 

Jonathan Russell is remembered to this day as an orator 
and a statesman. An oration of his, delivered at a Fourth 
of July celebration, was so remarkable as to call forth, at the 
time, a reply from the celebrated Tristam Burgess, and fifty 
years afterwards a reproduction in the Provideiice Journal. 
He was one of the Commissioners at the Treaty of Ghent. 
After the failure of his manufacturing enterj^rise he retired 
to his farm in Mendon, where he died in humble circum- 
stances. 

There was one failure in 1829 which eventually resulted 
in much good to Woonsocket. It was that of Timothy 
Greene & Son, of Pawtucket. In consequence of this, the 
son, Samuel Greene, was permitted to make Woonsocket 
his home, where for forty years, as the head of a large cor- 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 171 

poration and a leader in moral, educational and religious 
matters, his many virtues were conspicuous. 

Nearly all of those whom I have mentioned have passed 
away. But three still live, namely — Hosea Ballon, Dan A. 
Daniels and Thomas A. Paine ; and although far advanced 
in life, are hale and vigorous, and not likely to withstand the 
frowns of an ordinary man or the smiles of an extraordinary 
woman. 

The last-named gentleman, a grandson of the grandson of 
John Arnold, is noAv eighty-two years of age. His form is 
erect, his intellect unimpaired and Ids physical powers un- 
decayed. He fills at present the office of U. S. Internal 
Revenue Assessor of this district, and is ranked as one of the 
most efficient and vigilant in the service. To him I am 
deeply indebted for much of the material of this work, and 
to him the town looks for its faithful joerformance, as he was 
chosen by the Town Council, in company with Dr. Ariel 
Ballon and Willis Cook, an Advisory Committee to correct 
inaccurracies into which I might have fallen. Upon the resig- 
nation of Dr. Ballon from the committee, he was clothed by 
the other member of the committee with full powers to cor- 
rect, revise, etc. 

The tornado of 1829 was soon over. The " factory sys- 
tem " was healthy, and others were at hand to assume the 
responsibilities of those who had been swept overboard. In 
a short time mills began again to go up and spindles 'to re- 
volve as before. But a time Avas fast approaching that was 
to try men's souls. It was not a panic caused altogether by 
ambitious speculators, but a real disaster which no human 
power could avert. It was a famine, and a famine at a time 
when the passions of men were inflamed by partizan zeal and 
imaginary wrongs. 

In too many cases the manufacturers had lost sight of the 
human beings avIio operated their machines, and the}' too 



172 HISTOE.Y OF WOONSOCKET. 

often mistook injustice and cruelty for order and discipline. 
I know of one who was in the habit of flogging the children 
in his employ out of sheer wantonness — at one time kicking 
a boy over a bobbin-box, simply because the child had re- 
moved it from his path in the alley. It is pleasant to record, 
that this brute afterwards died in the poor-house. Many of 
the mill owners were of the loosest morals, and the factory- 
girl was fortunate who preserved her situation and her honor. 

To add fuel to the flame of discontent, pamphlets were 
circulated by political demagogues among the laboring 
classes, charging the manufacturers not only with tyranny 
and injustice, but with being moved b}^ aristocratic ideas in 
their views of government.* 

The unwise clamorings of the manufacturer for " protec- 
tion " provoked an equally absurd demand from the helj) for 
" Free Trade " — absurd, because it was chiefly founded in 
hate and malice, and because, instead of being the logic of 
the statesman, it was employed as the firebrand of the dema- 
gogue. In the heat of the contest the main question was set 
aside. Men were Whigs or Democrats because one was in 
some way supposed to represent the upper, and the other the 
lower stratum of society. The brilliant accomplishments of 
Henry Clay and the stern integrity of Andrew Jackson were 
but secondary causes for the enthusiasm of their supporters. 
Both parties seemed to imagine that "hard times" and 
" good times " were creations of Government, and ignored 
the higher law of supply and demand. It is not strange, 
therefore, that the excitement attending elections in those 
days, even when the equilibrium of the supply and demand 
for breadstuffs and labor was undisturbed, ran high, and that 



*From one of tliese I extract the follomng : "The memory of the fomider of cotton factories 
should he held in contempt by the present generation, and execrated to the remotest ages of 
posterity. Since the introduction of cotton machinery from England, the manufacturers here 
hold a great part of the white population in chains." 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 173 

tlio nuumfacturer was regarded by the masses with the deep- 
est hate. Still, however, the spindles continued to revolve. 

But when in 1837 the crops failed, and flour jumped 
from five to twelve dollars per barrel — when merchants and 
manufacturers suspended payment — when, in short, labor 
came down in the same ratio that breadstuffs Avent up, a 
new and unlooked-for element entered into the contest — one 
that has often dethroned kings and overturned empires. It 
Avas hunger ! It required but a word to convert a laAV-abiding 
people into madmen. 

The blow of 1837 was not so severe in Rhode Island as 
that of 1829, but it was more wide-spread. It is remembered 
the country over as the " hard year." In Woonsocket the 
failures are hardly worth mentioning. But the feelings of 
the masses only waited an opportunity for ex23ression. That 
opportunity soon came, and its expression was the " Dorr 
War." 

Since 1837 there liave been " hard times," but the un- 
natural animosity between the manufacturer and his help 
has been in a great measure allayed. Both the one and the 
other have learned that their interests are identical. No 
body of men would now stand by and cheer at the destruc- 
tion of their employer's mill, as they did when that of Wil- 
liam Harris, at Valley Falls, was being devoured by the 
flames, and no wise manufacturer now but that takes a deep 
and earnest interest in the happiness and welfare of those 
whom he employs. The " factory system " is fast becoming 
systematized. 



CHAPTER XL 

TRANSPORTATION. 

I HAVE now to connect the village with the outer world, 
and the pleasant task upon which I have employed my leisure 
moments for so long a time will be complete. With reluc- 
tance I enter upon this closing chapter. In reading over 
what I have Avritten, I find that I have failed, utterly failed, 
in presenting the pictures of the past as they have appeared 
to me. I have given you but words. The actors in the 
olden times — their hopes, their dreams, their aspirations — I 
have been powerless to restore. O, that I had the skill to 
make you feel as I have felt, to see as I have seen ! That 
I could have taken you into the dusty attics, where I have 
passed so many pleasant hours, and that together we might 
have looked, as it were, upon the tear-drops of those who 
have long been sleeping in the cold embrace of death ! 
There are yellow packages in those dusty attics — ]3^ckages 
encircled Avith ribbons that are faded. They contain papers 
written in the bloom of youth and love and hope, and locks 
of hair that still are golden in the sunlight ! 

But I am digressing. The title of this chapter was 
" transportation," and I must tell you something about it. 

In the most ancient times men and women performed 
their journeys on horseback. The old horse blocks have not 
yet entirely disappeared from the face of the earth, and may 
still be seen in the yards of antiquated mansions. When 
the chaise first made its appearance it was regarded as an in- 
novation, and looked upon by the envious much the same as 



histDky of woonsocket. 176 

is the landau in these times. But both the horses and the 
chaises could be enjoyed but by the favored few. The poor 
man who settled in these isolated regions, was practically 
shut out from his distant friends. There was no public mode 
of conveyance. The Post Office was many miles away. He 
who ventured upon a trip to New York was regarded as a 
hero. Previous to his departure, he was visited by the 
neighbors for miles around, and burdened with messages to 
loved ones on the way. Upon his return, his adventures 
were listened to with breathless curiosity, and repeated from 
house to house for many months. 

At last, about the year 1815, an enterprising man, by the 
name of Abner Cooper, started a public conveyance from 
Providence to Worcester, via. Woonsocket. This was a one- 
horse vehicle, and made a weekly trip between these two 
places. It is pleasant to record that the first trans^Dortation 
agent in these parts was a poet. He thus made his an- 
nouncement to his patrons : 

" Abner Cooper informs his friends 
That April next his quarter ends." 

The one-horse concern of Abner supplied the transporta- 
tion requirements of these parts until regular mail coaches 
were placed upon the route. 

These began to run about the year 1820, when two 
coaches were put on between Worcester and Providence — 
one going down the left bank of the river, and the other 
going down the right bank. They went down one day and 
returned the next. For the sake of convenience, I will call 
one the Cumberland route and the other the Smithfield route. 
As they started from the termini of the route on alternate 
days, and both coaches came to Woonsocket, we were thus 
placed in daily communication with Providence and Wor- 
cester. I will now give what I have been able to learn of 

I. The Cumberland route. When this first started, one 



Il6 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

driver came as far as the Coverdale place, and another driver 
continued from this point to Providence, via. Woonsocket and 
Cumberland Hill. The driver from Worcester to " Cover- 
dale " was a man by the name of Wheeler. The driver from 
Coverdale to Providence was Aaron White. In 1826 the 
drivers went through from Worcester to Providence. The 
following are the names of the several drivers : 

1. John Prouty 1826 4. Samuel Lawton 1837 

2. Hall Eartlett 1831 5. Aaron, familiarly called 

3. Beriali Cm'tis 1833 "Father" AVhi'te 1839 

who drove until the line was taken off. At the time of the 
closing up of the business, the coaches on both the Cumber- 
land and the Smithfield routes were owned by " Father " 
White and Mr. Beriah Curtis, before-mentioned. 

II. The Smithfield route. The drivers were as follows: 

1. Hull Brown 1820 2. John Bradley 182G 

Tliis man acted as managing agent of both lines until Mr. 
Elisha T. Read was put into this position. 

3. Israel Wheeler 1831 4. " Deacon" Bounds 1836 

This man was an old Jehu on the Boston and Providence 
line. When the coaches on this route were taken off, in con- 
sequence of the opening of the railroad between these places, 
he was employed on the Providence and Worcester route. 

5. Israel Wheeler 1837 6. Anson Johnson 1842 

In the year 1826 an opposition line was started by Thom- 
as Buffum and others. Charles Farnum was agent. It ran 
between Woonsocket and Providence, but continued only 
one season. 

When the Boston and Providence coaches lost their occu- 
pation by the introduction of the ra,ilroad, the proprietors 
thereof put on a daily line from Woonsocket to Providence. 
The driver was Asa Smith. This company was soon bought 
off by the Providence and Worcester line, and Henry Morris 
assumed the office of Jehu. It ran down the Cumberland 



HlSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 177 

side of the river. In 1840 jMorris "was discharged ])y the 
company, and started an opposition line down the Sniitli- 
fleld side, which continued for two years. The old c(nn})any 
inniiediately put on another daily line from Woonsockct to 
Providence, through Smithfield. There were now three 
daily lines to Providence, besides the two through lines 
l)efore-mentioned, namely — the INIorris line, the Cumberland 
and the Smithfield lines. 

III. The drivers on the Cuml)erland line were : 

1. Israel Wheeler 1S40 1, " Gov." Toin-tellot l^4r> 

2. David ]}rip:gs 1S42 5. Cliavles ]3ro\vii 184(> 

0. John Iliintiug 1844 

IV. The drivers on the Smithfield line were : 

1. " Gov." Tourtellot 1S40 3. " (rov." Tourtellot 184t) 

2. John Hunting 1845 

V. Just previons to the starting of the Providence daily 
lines, there was a Worcester and Providence " steamboat 
line." It ran during Summer months of the years 1835 and 
1838 inclusive. Its drivers were: 

1. "Deacon " liounds. 3. ]5enjaniin Davis. 

2. .Joshua jSIarshall. 

The horses, the coaches, and some of the drivers on these 
lines were very beautiful. The fare from Woonsocket to 
Providence was at first 75c. This was afterwards reduced 
to oOc, and at one time was but 25c. 

About the year 1830 a line of stages was established be- 
tween AVoonsocket and Boston. The coaches were owned 
and driven l)y Blake Parker. In 1845 another line Avas put 
on by Ezra Miller, which alternated with tlie Parker line, 
and Ave were thus placed in daily communication with Bos- 
ton. The drivers on the Miller line were: 

1. Fuller 1845 2. Merrill 1847 

In the year 1844 a line was started to connect with the 
Boston and Providence Railroad at Foxboro. Tlie diivers 
MCi'C! : 

1. (His Tieroo .1814 2. .lolin irniitiiiu- 184C. 



_-j 



l78 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKiiT. 

A little episode connected with the history of these lines 
is worth recording. January 8, 1831, occurred a very severe 
snow-storm. The roads did not get broken through in two 
weeks. The mails from Worcester to Providence were de- 
layed ten days. 

When the coaches first began, the Woonsocket Post Office 
was at the " Old Bank " Village. Here Christopher Almy 
was Postmaster for many years. The office at this place was 
discontinued in July, 1844. 

The first Postmaster at the " Falls " was Mr. Dan A. 
Daniels. During the exciting times of " Tippecanoe and 
Tyler too," John Burnham, afterwards known and loved as 
" Uncle John," became famous not only for his political zeal 
but for his powers as a singer of political songs, and in 1840 
his labors in the world of politics and of song were rewarded 
b}^ an appointment to the position of Postmaster at Woon- 
socket. This position he held (with the exception of a short 
period in 1861, when Mr. William Lindsey assumed the 
duties of the office, but died after holding the position but 
one month) until 1865, when he was succeeded by Mr. 
Stephen H. Brown, than whom a more courteous gentleman 
does not exist. '' Uncle John " lived but a short time after 
his retirement from office. His death was sincerely lamented 
by every patron of the Woonsocket Post Office. 

About the year 1832* the people of Woonsocket began to 
realize that the splendid coaches, which daily passed through 
the village, did not come up to their requirements, and a 
movement was started to construct a railroad from Woon- 
socket to Boston. Various projects Avere discussed for the 
attainment of this end from time to time. One was to inter- 
sect at Mansfield with the Providence and Boston Railroad, 
and another to connect at Framingham with the Boston and 
Worcester Railroad. In 1843 the people had become suffi- 

*I clcrive tliis from ;in cditoriiil in TuE AVoonsocket Patriot of 1843, wliicli said that the 
subject hitd bccu discussed for upwards of ten years. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. ITU 

cieiilly aroused, and articles began to appear in the news- 
papers, urging tlie connection of our isolated hamlet to the 
sinful world without. In the Autumn of this year a corres- 
pondent to the Providence Journal invited the attention of 
capitalists to the feasibility of a railroad between Woon- 
socket and Providence. He estimated that the cost of con- 
struction would be not over $200,000, and that the annual 
freight between the two points would be 2.5,000 tons. But 
the railroad projects did not meet with universal favor. Many 
of our best citizens regarded the advent of the locomotive as 
a public calamity. One of these, then engaged in commercial 
pursuits, and since honored by his countrymen with one of 
the highest gifts in the land, in anticipation of the impending- 
evil, sold out his business and accepted a position in a bank- 
ing institution. 

The views of this class are well expressed in a communica- 
tion, signed " J. C. M.," which appeared in The Woonsocket 
Patriot of December 29, 1843. " Where," he asked, "would 
the two hundred horses, which now feed here daily, then 
feed ? Would an equal amount of grain and hay be devoured 
by the locomotive ? Would farms be rendered more or less 
valuable in this vicinity ? Would the loss of a market for 
the farmer's great staple be compensated for by the sublimity 
of his being " whisked " through the air at the rate of twenty- 
five miles per hour?" The fun of this communication ap- 
pears to the best advantage, in the light of the present age, 
in the following extract: "The cheapness of transportation, 
which seems to be the great benefit to be derived from this 
" bubble," would be the means of bringing into more general 
use hard coal, which many prefer to wood." The views of 
" J. C. M." have undoubtedly been changed somewhat since 
the publication of his remarkable letter. 

Wednesday, January 3, 1844, a meeting was held in Provi- 
dence, at the office of the American Insurance Company. It 



180 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

was for the purpose of considering the subject of building a 
raih"oad from Providence to Worcester. A committee Avas 
(1) appointed to survey the route ; (2) to collect facts rela- 
tive to business, etc., along the line ; (3) to procure charters, 
etc. The committee consisted of the following-named gen- 
tlemen : 

William Ehodes, of Providence. Ilarvev Cliace, of Valley Falls. 

Isaac Tluirl)er, " John Osborne, of Smithfield, 

Jos. II. Carpenter, " Paul Wliitin, of ISTorthbridge. 

Christopher S. Rhodes, " Samuel Wood, of Grafton. 
James i. Smith, 

I. In the Autumn of this year Mr. T. Willis Pratt, the 
engineer, presented his report to the committee. I will give 
an abstract thereof. He says : 

" 1. The principal village on the route is Woonsocket. 

"2. To this place from Providence, the line has no inclination 
exceeding 17 95-100 feet per mile. This was the line following the 
Blackstone Canal to Lonsdale. 

"3. Were it to pass through the villages of Pawtncket, Central 
Falls and Valley Falls (whichlt did), the route Avould be more circuit- 
ous, and the maximum grade 2(3 40-100 ])er mile, instead of 17 95-100. 
I3ut the expense per mile would exceed but little that of the Moslias- 
suck route. 

"4. iSTorth of Woonsocket two routes Avere suggested. One was 
the river and canal line, through the village of Millbury, and was 
estimated to cost $1,000,000. The other was to intersect with the 
Boston and AVorcester Eailroad, at the Grafton depot, and was esti- . 
mated to cost $900,000." 

The former route was the one which was adopted. 

II. The sub-committee appointed to collect facts in rela- 

rioii to the prospective business of the road, thus reported in 

relation to Woonsocket and vicinity : 

"1. Hamlet— population, 250— contains two cotton mills, with .5,832 
spindles, 120 looms, employing 07 females and 74 males, producing 
20,000 yards of cotton cloth per week, and working 050 bales of cotton 
per annum. 

Estimated annual tons of merchandize 400 

" sum for ])assengers per annum §400 

freight " 700 

" 2. Bernon— population, 750— contains two cotton mills, Avith 11,000 
spindles, 288 looms, employing 175 females and 75 males, producing 
38,500 yards of cotton cloth per week, and working 1,000 bales of cotton 
per aiinum. 

Estimated annual tons of merchandize 033 

" sum for passengers per annum •$(>■'/■) 

freight " 12U0 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 181 

":;. Wooiisoclvet — poi)ulatioii, 4,000— contains 17 cotton mills, willi 
;;i,4.")() siiindlcs, Sl2 looms, prodncinsx ir)l,o;;i) yi'.nls of cotton cloth ]>cr 
week, and working 7),S)\ l)alcs of cotton per annnm ; tlirec woolen 
mills, with 10 sets ot machinery, ])rodncinL!; 4,700 yards of cloth jx'r 
week, and working 281,500 i)oniids of wool per animm ; six machine 
shops, an iron foundry, two grist mills, a saw-mill, one sp0(d and 
bobbin sho]), one soap manufactory, two wholesale grocery stores. In 
the mills 41;) females and 4.")(; males are emi)loyed. 

Estimated annual tons of merchandize. ir),2.j:> 

" sum for ]_)assengers per annum $10,100 

" " freight " 30,4(30 

" N. J3.— It should be stated that the estimation of sum received 
from passengers was based on that estimated to be received by 
stages." 

III. The Rhode Island Charter for the road was granted 
at the May session of 1844. In a short time the road was 
located, and ]3assed' through the following Woonsocket 
estates : Joseph Wilkinson, Hamlet Manufacturing Com- 
})anY, Sullivan Dorr, Crawford Allen, Amos D. Smith, 
James Y. Smith, Samuel G. Arnold, Cornelia G. Greene, 
Frances E. Arnold, George C. Ballon, Joel Fletcher, D. D. 
Buffum, Henry Sayles, William Greenman, Lyman A. Cook, 
(_^snian Fuller, Charles E. Slocum, Olney Mason, Amos 
Grant, Seth Arnold, Erastus Keach, Ballon heirs, Johnson 
]\Iatthewson, Aaron White, Edward Harris, Abagail Arnold, 
jMary Ann Mowry, Dinah Veazie, Farnum Harris, Welcome 
Farnum. The Aaron White in the foregoing list was the 
lawyer, and not the stage-driver of that name, before- 
mentioned. 

I embrace this opportunity to speak particularly of 
" Squire " White, because this chapter is devoted chiefly to 
tlic subject of " transportation," and his many eulogists, in 
speaking of his eminent abilities as a lawyer, his sterling- 
virtues as a man, and his faithful services as a Dorrite, never 
omit to mention his extraordinary powers as a pedestrian. 
It is one of the traditions of W^oonsocket that Squire White 
could seldom wait for the stage-coaches, and that with his 
law books and briefs under his arm, he would hasten on foot 
to Providence, and beat the coaches every time ! The ofiice 



182 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

of this celebrated man was removed to make room for the 
AVoonsocket depot of the Providence and Worcester Rail- 
road. This building was erected in August, 1847. On the 
9th of this montli the locomotive engine " Lonsdale " arrived 
at Providence. On the following month the transportation 
of freight begun, and October 1 passenger trains ran regu- 
larly between Providence and Millville. Monday, October 
25, 1847, the road was formally opened. Stockholders and 
invited guests, numbering about 1,500 persons, passed over 
the route, and partook»of a collation at Worcester. 

But the railroad in which the citizens of Woonsocket had 
deepest interest, of which they first talked, and for which 
they labored with most zeal, was still unfinished. It would 
require more space than I have devoted to the entire history 
of the town, to recount the trials and discouragements which 
were encountered, ere at last we were placed in direct rail- 
road communication with Boston. The bitter feelings which 
were engendered between individuals, and the jealousies 
awakened between rival railroad and municipal corporations 
in the controversy, have furnished themes for countless essays 
and innumerable editorials. In the ever-memorable struggle, 
the learning of Samuel Ames, the eloquence of Christopher 
Robinson, the shrewdness of Edward Harris, and the in- 
domitable will of Welcome Farnum were put to their 
severest tests. 

August 12, 1846, a convention met at Armory Hall. Up- 
wards of five hundred were present. George S. Wardwell 
was elected President. Edward H. Sprague and Orin A. 
Ballou, Secretaries. Hon. Luther Metcalf and Otis Pettee, 
of Massachusetts ; Hon. Asa Jillson and Hon. Samuel Webb, 
of Connecticut ; Edward Harris and Samuel Greene, of 
Rhode Island, were chosen Vice-Presidents. E. K. Whitaker 
and Warren Lovering, of Massachusetts; George S. Catlin, 
of Connecticut; W. S. Slater and L. W. Ballou, of Rhode 



ttlSTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 18B 

Island, were chosen a Committee to report bnsiness for the 
convention. 

Previous to this meeting the Massachusetts Legishiture 
voted adversely to the " Pettee route," and the Connecticut 
Legislature had granted a charter to the "Air Line" over 
the veto of Gov. Toucy. 

May 6, 1847, another meeting was held at Armory Hall. 
Ezekiel Fowler was chosen Chairman ; Samuel Greene, Vice- 
President; E. H. Sprague and L. W. Ballon, Secretaries. 

I refer to these meetings simply to give the names of tlie 
actors in the drama. The play itself is not worth preserv- 
ing. In the meantime, Christopher Robinson and Samuel 
Ames had discussed the matter jwro and co7i before our Legis- 
lature. The Providence Journal reported and applauded the 
effort of the last-named gentleman, and referred to the speech, 
of Mr. Robinson in a single sentence. This aroused the 
indignation of The Woonsocket Patriot, and a lively news- 
paper war ensued. 

But in spite of these meetings, speeches and editorials, 
the genius, will and mone}^ of Welcome Farnum prevailed, 
and the "Air Line" came to Waterford instead of Woon- 
socket. 

Not until September, 1863, was the dream of Woonsocket 
realized, and a railroad completed connecting it with tlie 
hub of the universe. 



CHAPTER XII. 

CONCLUSION. 

The history of Woonsocket is that of New England in 
miniature. It is the same play with different actors. True, 
no witches have been hanged in this vicinity, but no doubt 
there ought to have been ; neither has tins been the scene 
of any extraordinary military achievement, if we except that 
of 

" Laban Wade 
With his brigade, 
And Landers with his cannon." 

Bat Woonsocket has had its superstitious and its military 
age, and now, in common Avith her sister towns, has entered 
upon its industrial age. The hum of the spindle has drowned 
the soft strains of the shepherd's pipe. The questions of the 
hour are not how many bushels of corn or potatoes to the 
acre, but how many j^ards of cloth to the loom ; not the value 
of the smiling meadow and the fertile field, but of the un- 
broken forest, the swift-running stream and the barren ledge. 
Fifty years ago a large and well-cultivated farm was a source 
of revenue ; to-day (except in certain localities) it is a tax. 
The depreciation of real estate in tlie country, and its ad- 
vance in villages and cities, equally command our attention, 
and awaken us to the fact that the manufacturer and the 
merchant are soon to become the landholders of the State. 
Here and there, dotting the hill-side or nestling among the 
trees, stands the ancient farm-house. It is falling into ruin. 
The neglected lilac hangs over the decaying fence, and the 
fragrant tanzy, hidden amidst the rank grass, seems to 



filSTORY or WOONSOCKET. 185 

breathe a sad perfume from the past. On the other hand, 
the cow-path through tlie lonesome swamp has been trans- 
formed into the bustling street of the village, and the clatter 
of the loom has frightened the owl from his accustomed 
haunts. 

The merchant and the tourist are now placed in easy and 
rapid communication with distant climes ; a trijj to the four 
quarters of the earth is stripped of its perils and hardships ; 
the fields of the West, the gardens of the East, the rivers of 
the North and the groves of the tropics, pay tribute at our 
daily meals. Ease, comfort and jjlenty seem to surround us. 
The piano and the sewing-machine have usurped the honors 
of the ancient spinning-wheel. The homespun garments of 
our ancestors have given place to silks and satins. The 
poorest now indulge in luxuries that the richest once could 
not obtain. Poverty seems to have been stripped of its ter- 
tors and wealth of its arrogance. And yet, for all this ap- 
parent progress, we have had to pay a heavy price. 

1. The word " economy," which to us is well-nigh obso- 
lete, to our ancestors was full of meaning. Where Nature 
was unpropitious, and when Art was in its infancy, with 
their own hands they Avere forced to gather the materials for 
their shelter, clothing and sustenance. Their cloths were 
"homespun" — their furniture was for use rather than dis- 
play ; their " crockery " was made of wood, or in some 
aristocratic families, of pewter ; their carpets were sand, 
sprinkled upon the floor. 

But there was one thing which pervaded their liouse- 
holds, which glittered upon their pewter-platters and glis- 
tened upon their ceilings like the harvest moon-beams on 
the river. It was neatness and order ! The marks of grease 
were visible from cellar to attic — but it was " elbow-grease." 
Their counterpanes were coarse as dog's hair, but they were 
white as snow ; their tables ponderous as ox-carts, but 
smooth as marble. Thus in a soil enriched by industry, 



186 HiSTOEY OF WOONSOCKiit. 

frugality and order, the tree of American Independence 
took root ! Let us beware lest the weeds of indolence, 
extravagance and discord do not impede its growth ! 

2. Again, the appliances of Art in economizing and ap- 
propriating the gifts of Nature, while opening new avenues 
to industry and wealth, have taken from the American yeo- 
man that spirit of self-reliance and independence for which 
he was so distinguished in the past. He is no longer con- 
tent with the humble products of his fields and meadows, 
and he goes out beyond the limits of his little realm to 
mingle with his fellows in the outer world. The individuality 
of such men as David Mo wry, Arnold Speare, Thomas Mann 
and Lewis Dexter, has passed away forever ! 

Whether this change has been for the better or the w^orse, 
it is not my province to discuss. Vice and corruption exist 
as abundantly, perhaps, as in the days of Aai'on Burr. Scof- 
fers at religion are as numerous, perhaps, as in the times of 
Thomas Paine. There may be more Sabbath-breaking and 
less cant — more profanity and less hypocrisy — more apparent 
vice and less outward virtue ; but no age of the world has 
developed more benevolence, more virtue, more heroism than 
this in which Ave live ! And surrounded as he maj be by 
poverty and suffering and want, the philanthropist is cheered 
by the thought that the children of men are better clad, 
better fed and better sheltered than ever before. Regret- 
ting as he must, the modern modes of thought, the seem- 
ing disregard of forms and customs Avhich our fathers cher- 
ished with a jealous care, the superficial views of truths 
which liave been tested in the crucible of centuries, the 
Christian feels that, underneath these glittering shams, the 
hearts of men with nobler aspirations, deeper yearnings, 
throb and pulsate in the light of Heaven ! So, cheered, 
sustained and strengthened by the swiftly-changing pictures 
of the past, the patriot, in this centennial year, looJcs for- 
Avard to the future with a glorious hope ! 



Appendix A 



GE>^EALOGY. 

WniLE collecting material for the foregoing History, I found much 
genealogical matter which I deem to be worth preserving. In offer- 
ing it to the reader, I do not vouch for its strict accuracy. But in its 
compilation I have bestowed a fair amount of time and research, and 
trust that it will be thankfully received. 

THE DESCEND AKTS OF WILLIAM AEXOLD. 

FIRST GENERATION. 

1 WILLIAM AENOLD. 

He was one of the tliirteen original i)roi)rlet(n's of 
Providence. He was l)orn 1580. The first notice of 
him, according to Staples, is in 1035, when he was a 
citizen of Ilingham, Mass. His children were : 

2 Benedict— He was the first Gov. of R. I. under the charter of 

Charles 11. 
o Stephen— Lived atPawtuxet; was one of the Inman pro])rietors. 
(See History.) 



*4 Thomas— Born ItUG; died Sept., 1074. (See History.) 
5 Joanna— Married' Zachary Rhodes. 



/ 



SECOND GENERATION. 

4 THOMAS ARNOLD married 

rilEBE, the daughter of John Parkhurst. 

The first notice that I find of this man is Jan. (I, l(i;'4. 
(See N. E. Reg., Vol. XIV., v. 347.) He was then is 
years of age. His first settlement in IJIiotie Island 
was at Providence. \h' afterward settled in the 
valley of the Moshassuck, near tlie lower Quaker 
Meeting-house. (See History.) His estate was 
divided by the Council between his widow and his 
5 remaining children. At that time his cliildreu 
were : 



/ 



188 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

*7 Richaixl— Born March 22, 1642 ; died April 22, 1710 

8 Thomas. 

9 John. 
^10 T^"' 1 p j^ 7 p 1* 

*11 Elizabeth— Died Oct. 20, 1747. She lived to be upwards of 100 
years of age. I find in the i^. E. Reg. a notice of 2 
other children. The names of these are : 
12 Ichabod— Born March 1, 1640. 

18 Susanna married 

14 Jolitt Earnum, April 7, 1654. 

THIRD GENERATION. 

J 7 RICHARD ARNOLD (see History) married 

15 SARAH ANGELL. Their children were : 
*16 Richard— Died June, 1745. 

*17 John— Born 1671 ; died Oct. 27, 1756. 
*18 Thomas— Died Eeb. 3, 1727. 

19 Mary married Thomas Steere. 

10 ELEAZER ARNOLD. 
I derive the following from a copy of his will. Ac- 

cording to this his children were : 

21 Joseph. 

22 John. 

^-23 Eleazer— The will refers to his daughter-in-law, Sarah Arnold. 
, Her husband died Eeb. 6, 1712-13. 

24 Jeremiah. 

25 Ellenor. 

26 Mary. 

27 Phebe. 

11 ELIZABETH ARNOLD married 

28 SAMUEL COMSTOCK. (See History.) The marriage was 

consummated Nov. 26, 1678. Their children were : 
*29 Samuel— Born April 16, 1679, 
*30 Hezediah— Born April 16, 1682 ; died Feb. 21, 1764. 

31 Thomas— Born Nov. 7, 1684. 

32 Daniel— Born July 19, 1686. 

33 Elizabeth— Born Dec. 18, 1690 ; married Sayles. 

34 John— Born March 26, 1693. 

35 Ichabod— Born June 9, 1696. 

36 Job— Born April 4, 1699. 
*37 Jeremiah. 

/ FOURTH GENERATION. 

' 16 RICHARD ARNOLD (see History) married 
38 MARY WOODWARD. There was a Woodward family, who 

lived wiiere Albion now is. Their children were : 
*39 Thomas— Died Dec. 11, 1765. 
*40 Richard. 

41 Edmund— Married Mary Staples, Dec. 24, 1738 ; no issue. 
*43 Woodward. 



v 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 189 

*44 Josias. 
*45 Joseph. 

AVilkinson alludes to a daughter, 
4() Mary, who married 

47 David Wilkinson, and gives them nine children. 

V 17 JOHN AENOLD (see History) married, first, 

48 MAKY MO WRY, daughter of Nathaniel. See No. 1.155. She 

died Jan. -27, 1742. Their children were : 

*40 William— Born Dec. 9, 1G95 ; died Aug. 2, 1766. 

*50 John— Born May 29, 1697 ; died 1727. 

*51 Israel. 

*52 Daniel— Died July 30, 1773. 

53 Anthony— Born Jan. 12, 1704 ; m. Susanna Fisk ; removed to 
New York. 

*54 Seth— Born July 26, 1706 ; died 1801. 

*55 Anna. 

56 Mercy— Born Oct., 1701 ; m. Lapham ; removed to Dart- 
mouth. 

*57 Susanna. 

*58 Abigail. 

He married, second, 
59 HANNAH HAYWARD-No issue. 

J,/ 18 THOMAS ARNOLD. I have not ascertained the name of his 
wife. Their children were : 
*60 Job— Born Aug. 9, 1707. 
*61 Jonathan— Born Nov. 18, 1708. 
62 Mary— Born Oct. 28, 1710. 
*63 Thomas— Born Nov. 4, 1713 ; died July 31, 1749. 

64 Elizabeth— Born 1717. 

65 Sarah— Born April, 1722. 

29 SAMUEL COMSTOCK married 

66 ANN INMAN. Their children were : 
*67 David. 

68 Sarah married 

69 Seth Aldrich, of Mendon. 
*70 

30 HEZEDIAH COMSTOCK married, first, 

71 CATHERINE PRAY, daughter of 

72 John Pray, who lived near wliat is now Ashton. Tlieir children 

were : 

73 Susan— Born April 7, 1707 ; married Thomas Arnold, No. 39. 

74 William— Born May 3, 1708 ; died No. 16, 1745. 
*75 Gideon— Born Nov. 4, 1709 ; died 1801. 

76 Rachel— Born Sept. 9, 1711 ; married Anthony Steere, May 11, 

1746 ; died June 13, 1806. 
*77 Catharine— Born Sept. 19, 1713 ; died Dec. 17, 1751. 
*78 Hezediah— Born Jan. 9, 1715 ; married Mary Arnold, No. 174 ; 

died Dec, 1751. 
79 Penelope— Born Feb. 11, 1717 ; died June 17, 1730. 



190 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

*80 Anthony— Born ISTov. 7, 1719 ; died Febj 20, 1762, 

81 Andrew— Born Jan. 22, 1721 ; died April 19, 1735. 

82 John— Born April 16, 1724 : died 1792. 

He married, second, Ang. 10, 1730, 

83 MAETHA BALCOLM. Her children were : 
*84 Anna— Born April 14, 1731 ; died June 5, 1794. 

85 Ezekiel— Born May 1, 1733 ; married Martha Arnold. ISTo. 166 ; 

died June 7, 1777. 

86 Phebe— Born June 5, 1735 ; died Xov. 25, 1740. 

87 Kufus— Born Oct. 26, 1738 ; died Nov. 23, 1740. 

88 Martha— Borii Jan. 3, 1742 ; married Staples ; died Aug. 16, 

1779. 

37 JEREMIAH COMSTOCK. I have not ascertained the name 
of his wife. Their children were : 

89 Joseph— Married Anna, No. 84. 

FIFTH GENERATION. 

N 39 THOMAS ARNOLD married, first, 

SUSAN COMSTOCK (see No. 73). She died June 30, 1736. He 
was known as Judge Thomas Arnold. (See History.) 
*90 Mary— Born Oct. 2, 1730. 
91 Susanna— Born Jan. 12, 1731-32. 
*92 Thomas— Born Oct. 8, 1733, 
*93 Catharine— Born Sept. 24, 1735. 
He married, second, 

94 MARY MAN. She died April 16, 1747. Their children wore : 

95 Ace— Born Aug. 28, 1738. 

90 John— Born Jan. 22, 1741. 

He married, third, 
97 PATIENCE COOK, of Newport. Their children were : 
*98 Lydia— Born Oct. 16, 1749. 

*99 Peleg— Born June 10, 1751. • 

*100 Naomi. 
*101 Hannah. 

*102 Martha married Seth, No. 187, and Caleb, No. 126. 
*103 Sarah. 

104 Patience, who married 

105 Daniel Bartlett. 

40 RICHARD ARNOLD married May 19, 1722, 

106 RUTH ALDRICH. 

They lived on the "Abraham Arnold place." He 
was a very ingenious man. June 6, 1733, he went to 
Philadelphia, leaving his family. (See History.)— 
His sons Richard and Stephen, applied to the Coun- 
cil for a guardian, Dec. 10, 1744. Their children 
were : 

107 Ruth. 

108 Jane. 

109 Richard. 

*110 Stephen, born April 23, 1728, married Rachel, No. 175, died 

Monday, May 2, 1796. 
Ill Samuel. 



iltSTOUY OF WOONSOCKET. 19l 

^ 43 WOODWAED ARNOLD nianied 
112 HUTU WILKINSON. 

His first liomestead was what was afterwiird Iciiowii 
as the "Natlian Staples phice," near "Woonsockct 
run. lie "al)scondea." Capt. Daniel Arnold, Xd. 
52, was appointed by the Council, s'lJi^'dian of one 
of the children. The following? are the names of 
the children, which I copy from Wilkinson's j;ene- 
alogy. 
11. J Ishmael. 

114 Philip, no issue. 

115 William. 

110 Naomi, born June 2, 1735. 

\ 44 JOSIAS ARNOLD married 
117 AMY PHILLIPS. 

This man was given estates by his father, near 
Woonsocket Hill. But I tliink he afterward re- 
moved to another region. I give but one child, 
namely: 
*11S Jonathan. 

v/45 JOSEPH ARNOLD (see History) married 
' 119 PATIENCE WILKINSON. Their children were : 
120 Stephen, born Nov. 30, 1725. 
*121 Mercy, . . Ai)ril 19, 1727. 

122 Infant, . . Nov. 27, 1728, died Dec. 15, 1728. 

123 Phebe, . . Nov. 18, 1729, married Jeremiah Comstock. 
*124 Jacob, . . July 7, 1732. 

*125 William, . . Nov. 30, 1733. 
120 Caleb, . . March 21, 1735, married Martha Arnold, No. 102. 

lie died March, 1795. 
*127 Patience, . . May 14, 1738. 
*128 Philadelphia, born Jan. 12, 1740. 



W 



49 WILLIAM ARNOLD (see History) married, first, 

129 HANNAH WHIPPLE in 1717. 

She was the daughter of Eleazer Wliipjile, who 
lived where Benj. and I'^lisha JSIowry now reside, 
at Lime Rock. Their children were : 

*1.10 Sarah, born Jan. 12, 1717-18. 

*131 Elisha, . . March 14, 1719-20. 

*];',2 Martlia, . Dec. 28, 1721. 
i:'.3 A son. . Oct. 11, 1724, died Aug. 14, 1725. , 

134 John, . . Aug. 13, 1720, died July 22, 1730. 

135 Hannah, ... 1727. 

He married, second, 

130 MARGARET C APRON, May ,5, 1729. She died June 22, 1739, 

aged 38 years, 10 inonths, 9 days. Their cliililrcu 
were : 

137 Benedict, liorn .June 30, 1729 ; died Oct. 27, 1744. 

138 Ilannali, . . Sent. 18, 17.".1 ; died Sept. 20, 17^4. 

139 Gideon, . . -Inly 11, 1734 ; died July 22, 173G. 



l92 tllSTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

*140 Susanna, born Jan. 31, 1735-36. 
*141 Gideon, . . June 5, 1738. 
He married, third, 

142 Mrs. HANNAH HAYWAKD, April 1, 1740. Their children 

were : 

143 Infant, born Dec. 5, 1740 ; died March 12, 1741. 

144 Anna, . . Nov. 9, 1741. 

He married, fourth, 

145 Mrs. HANNAH EDDY, May 18, 1755. She was daughter of 

146 Job Whipple. Her first liusband was 

147 Nathaniel Eddy, whom slie married Feb. 22, 1738-39. Their 

children were : 

148 Mary, born Dec. 7, 1739. 

149 Ruth, . . Jan. 4, 1742. 

150 Stephen . . May 18, 1745. 

151 David . . Oct. 23, 1747. 

She married Uriah Mowry, No. 1,162, for lier tliird 
husband. Her cliild by William Arnold was : 
*152 Hannah, born Dec. 31, 1755. 

50 JOHN ARNOLD married 

153 MARTHA JENCKES. Their children were : 
*154 Moses. 
*155 David. 
*156 Noah. 

157 Daniel, no issue. 

158 Aaron, 

John died in 1727. His widow married 

159 JAMES ALDRICH, Dec. 13, 1731. 

V 51 ISRAEL ARNOLD married 

160 WAITE MOWRY, daughter of Joseph, No. 1,158. They lived 

at Glocester, afterwards Burrillville. Their children 
were : 

161 Israel. 
*162 Elisha. 
*163 Benedict. 

*164 Oliver, born 1726 ; died Oct. 9, 1770. 

165 Lacy, married Samuel Comstock, No. 244. 

166 Martha, . . Ezekiel Comstock, No. 85. 

107 Mary, . . 1st, Peter Taft ; 2d, Darius Daniels. 

168 Mercy, . . Aaron Taft. 

\; 52 DANIEL ARNOLD (see History) married 

169 BATHSIIEBA BALLOU. Their children were : 
*170 Uriah, born April 9, 1721. 

171 Priscilla, . . March 2, 1722-23. 

*172 Enoch, . . March 31, 172.5. 

173 Elijah, . . Dec. 23, 1726. 

174 Mary, . . Aug. 23, 1728 ; married Ilezadiah Comstock, jr., 

No. 78. 

175 Rachel, . . Dec. 19, 1730; married Stephen, No. 110. 
*176 Dorciis, . . May 18, 1732. 

*177 Anna, . . Feb. 19, 1733-34. 



HISTOEY or WOONSOCKET. 



193 



'> 54 
178 

179 

*180 

181 

182 

183 

*184 

*18r) 

*186 

187 

188 
*189 
*190 
*191 

192 

\' 55 

193 

*19-4 

195 
196 

197 
198 
199 
200 

201 

202 
203 
204 
205 
206 
207 
208 
209 
210 
211 

212 
213 
214 
215 
216 
217 



SETII ARNOLD married, first, 

HANNAH ALDllICII. Slie died Feb. 1, 1749. 

were : 
Levi, born Dec. G, 1731 ; died Nov. 24, 1741. 



Tlicir cJiildreu 



Dec. 21, 1812. 
Sept. 6, 1741. 
Sept. 29, 1741. 
Nov. 24, 1741. 



Natliaii, . . Oct. 18, 1733 ; 
Seth, .. Feb. 10, 1735; 
Hannah, . . Nov. 30, 1737; 
Al)igail, . . Mar, 25, 1740; 
ILannah, . . Dec. 27, 1742. 
Abigail, . . April 10, 1744. 
Levi, . . Dec. 11, 1746. 

Seth, . . Jan. 6, 1749 ; married Martha, No. 102. He mar- 
ried, second, 
MARY CARGILL, Oct. 25, 1750. 
George, born Friday, Oct. 11, 1751. 
Phebe, . . June 2, 1755. 
James, . . Nov. 27, 1763 ; died Oct. 18, 1841. 
Anthony, . . May 28, 1769 ; . . 1794 ; no issue. 

ANNA ARNOLD married 

BENJAMIN PAINE, Dec. 20, 1731. Their child was : 

Arnold, born 1734 ; died July 19, 1802. Anna Arnold was tlie 

second wife of Benjamin Paine. His first wife was 

ELIZABETH . Their children were : 

Priscilla, born June 5, 1722. 
Dorcas, . . July 29, 1724. 
Nathan, . . May 18, 1726. 
Benjamin, . . March 17, 1727-28. 
John, . . Feb. 2, 1729-30. 

His third wife was 
ANNIE MOWRY, Nov. 2, 1734. 

children were : 
Anna, born Aug. 31, 1735. 
Annie, . . March 7, 1736-37. 
Elizabeth, . . Ai)ril 27, 1738. 
Marv, . . July 21, 1739. 
Sarah, . . March 14, 1740-41. 
John, . . Dec. 21, 1742 ; died Aug. 
Abigail, . . May 2, 1744. 
Margery, . . May 17, 1746. 
Joseph, .. Au<r. 17, 1747. 
Benoni, . . April 25, 1749. 

His i()urth wife was 
JEMIMA ESTON, April 30, 1751 
Jonathan, born Feb. 8, 1753. 
Abi, . . Sept. 12, 1754. 

Jemima, . . Dec. 8, 1756. 
Obed, . . Dec. 31, 1758. 

Bela, . Jan. 26, 1762. 



She died May 4, 1749. Their 



1746. 



Their children were 



57 SUSANNA ARNOLD married 

218 JOHN MELAVORY, Dec. 26, 1736. 

219 Amy, born Dec. 18, 1740. 

220 Mary, .. June <i, 1745. 

9.^ 



194 HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 

/ 

^ 58 ABIGAIL AENOLB married 

221 ABNER BARTLETT, April 30, 1734. They lived in Glocester. 

222 Anna ; no issue. 
*223 Rufus. 

*224 Elisha. 
*225 Caleb. 

60 JOB ARNOLD married . His children were : 

226 Stephen. 

227 Oliver. 

228 Abraham. 

229 Job. 

230 Isaac. 

61 JONATHAN ARNOLD married . His children were : 

231 Jonathan. . 
*232 Welcome. 

233 Asa. 

234 Thomas, 

63 THOMAS ARNOLD married 

235 AMEY SMITH, Nov. 9, 1737. 

236 Luke, born Aug. 27, 1738. 

237 Amey, . . Sept. 22, 1740. 

238 Huldah, .. Nov. 14, 1742. 

239 Nathaniel, . . Jan. 24, 1744. 

240 Phebe, . . Dec. 15, 1746. 

241 Alee, . . May 30, 1748. 

67 DAVID COMSTOCK married . His children Avere . 

242 George, married Cath. Arnold, No. 93. 

243 Deborah, . . Enoch Arnold, No. 172. 

70 - — COMSTOCK married . His children were : 

244 Samuel, married Lucy Arnold, No. 165. 

245 Jerusha, . . Jos. Man, No. 339. 

75 GIDEON COMSTOCK. 

He was married twice. I have not looked u]) the 
name of his last wife. He was the fatlier of ten 
children, but four of whom grew up. These four 
were by his tirst wife, 
RUTH ARNOLD, whom he married March 3, 1738-39. 
*246 Alpha. 

247 Ereelove, married Benjamin Carpenter. 

248 Amey . . Gov. Arthur lenner. 

249 Adaiii . . Margaret McGregor. 

77 CATHARINE COMSTOCK married 

250 THOMAS STEERE, May 16, 1736. 



HISTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. lOo 

251 Elisha, born Sept. 10, 17:^. 

252 Andrew, . . Kov. 17, 17:5S ; died Dec. 18, 1751. 
25:5 Susanna, . . May 10, 1740 ; . . Dec. 5, 1751. 

254 Thomas, . . Feb. 2, 174:5-44 ; . . Dec. 8, 1751. 

255 David, . . May 20, 1745. 
25(5 Kathan, . . Sept. 23, 1747. 

257 Kacliel, . . Jan. 18, 1750. 

7S HEZADIAII COMSTOCK married 

MAKY ARNOLD, I^o. 174, April 20, 1740. 

258 Caleb. 

259 Stephen. 

SO xV?^TIIONY COMSTOCK married . His cliildren were: 

2()0 Susanna. 
2G1 Anthony. 

84 ANNA COMSTOCK married 

JOSEPH COMSTOCK, No. 89, June 7, 1747. 
262 Ezekiel. This man Avas the noted Dr. Ezekiel Comstock, to 
whom I refer in the body of this "work. 

SIXTH GENERATION. 

■ Y 90 MARY ARNOLD married 

2G3 Judge CALER ALDRICII, Jan. 1, 1747-48. This man was 
a son of Moses Aldrich, the celebrated Quaker 
preacher. 
*2G4 Susanna, born Nov. 25, 1748. 
*265 Tliomas, . . April 7, 1750. 

*2G() William, . . Ai)ril 3, 1752 ; married Prusha Paine, No. 508. 
*2G7 Ilannali, .. Eeb. 2, 1752-53. 
*2G8 Naaman, . . May 6, 175G. 

*2(i9 Joel, . . June 2, 1758 ; died Saturday, Dec. 31, 1842. 

*270 Augustus, . . May 9, 17G0. 

*271 Mary, . . Sept. 8, 1762 ; married John Paine, No. 505. 

*272 Caleb, . . Sept. 27, 17(i4 ; married Ali)lia Bartlett, No. 519. 

*273 Moses, . . March 15, 17G7 ; married Philadelphia Williams, 

No. 359. 
*274 Lydia, . . May 29, 1769 ; died Dec. .3, 1822. Slie married 

James Paine, No. 508. 
*275 Arnold, . . Aug, 1, 1773. 

^92 THOMAS ARNOLD married . His children were : 

276 Aaron, married Amy Eddv, No. 299. 

277 Asa. 

, S3 CATHARINE ARNOLD married 
GEORGE (^0]\[STO(7s:, No. 242. 

278 ^ Susanna, died young. 

279 I Rowena, married Zadoc Smith. 

280 George. 



196 HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

^A 98 LYDIA AKNOLD married 

281 WILLIAM BUFFUM, son of 

282 Josei)li Buft'um, of Salem. 

283 David Buft'um, tlie brother of William, was grandfather of 

284 Darius D. Buft'um. 

The children of AVilliam and Lydia were ; 
*285 Patience. 
*286 Lucy. 
287 Thomas. 

*288 Hannah, born Dec. 13, 1779 ; died Monday (noon), Nov. 8, 18-14. 
*289 Arnold. 

*290 Waite, married Otis Bartlett, No. 523. 
*291 Lydia. 
*292 William. 

"^- 99 PELEG ARNOLD (see History) married 

ALPHA ARNOLD, daughter of Stephen, No, 110. No issue. 

A 100 NAOMI ARNOLD married 

293 DAVID EDDY. 

294 Amy married Aaron Arnold, No. 279. 

^101 HANNAH ARNOLD married 
ELIJAH ARNOLD, No. 322. 

295 Joanna. 

296 Stephen. 

297 Sally. 

298 Polly. 

299 Richard. 

300 Ruth. 

"^^ 102 MARTHA ARNOLD married, first, 
SETH ARNOLD, No. 187. 

301 Richard, 

302 Lydia. 

303 Henry. 

304 Hannah. 
365 Roby. 
300 Seth. 

She married, second, 

CALEB ARNOLD, No. 120. No issue. 

v\ 
N 103 SARAH ARNOLD married 

307 JOSEPH CAPRON. He was In-other of Mary Capron, who 
married Ezekiel Arnold, No. 373. He was a soldier 
in the Revolution. 
,308 Asa. 

309 Ruth. 

310 Nabby. 

311 Sylvia. 



III8T011Y OF WOONSOC'KET. 



191 



312 Betsey, niarried Whipple Arnold, No. 1,088. 
1513 Otis. 
314 Josc'iih. 
31."> Tlioiiuis. 
31(3 Lucy. 

317 Patty. 

318 Sabra. 
*319 Elisha. 

320 Fanny. 



Vi 



10 



321 Alpha, \K 


*322 Eli i ah. 


323 Ruth, 


324 Joanna, . 


325 Mercy, 


326 Dianna, , 


327 Bathsheba 


328 Rachel, 


*329 Cyrus, 



^i 



STEPHEN ARNOLD married 

RACHEL ARNOLD, No. 17o, May 27, 1749. 

He lived on the homestead farm of Cyrus Arnold, 
Esq. An obituary notice of this s'entieman in the 
Providence Gazette of Saturday, May 7, 179G, says, 
tliat his intellectual faculties were of a superior 
kind, that benevolence and humanity were prominent 
traits in his character, that he was freqiiently ap- 
pointed to offices of trust by the town and by the 
State, and that he held the office of Justice of the 
Peace for upwards of tliirty years, 
born March 2, 1750 ; married Judge Peleg, No. 99. 

Dec. 15, 1751 ; . . 1st, Hannah, No. 101. 

Oct. 1, 1753 ; . . Elisha Bartlett, No. 224. 

March 8, 1755 ; . . Thomas Aldrich, No. 26.5. 

Aug. 4, 1757 ; . . Naaman . . . . 268. 

Nov. 5, 17G2 ; . . Joel . . . . 269. 

(^ct. 24, 1764 ; . . Augustus . . . . 270. 

Feb, 9, 1770 ; . . Caleb . . . . 272. 

Sept. 1, 1774. 



118 Dk. JONATHAN ARNOLD. The services of this man during 
Picvolutionary times form a large chapter in the 
history of our country. In 1787 he removed to Ver- 
mont, and settled on a large tract, granted to him 
and his associates tlie previous vear, for liis services 
to that State in the Continental Congress. His third 
wife was 

330 ('ynthia Hastings, of Charlestown, N. H. His last wife was 

331 Susan Perkins, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Her second hus- 

band was 

332 Charles Marsli, the father of 

333 George P. JMarsli. The number of his children I have not taken 

tlie trouble to ascertain. I can only say that a 
daugliter married 

334 James Burrill, an eminent lawyer of Providence, and that his 

third wife, Cynthia Hastings, presented him with a 
son, named 

335 Lemuel Hastings. Tliis man was Governor of Rhode Island in 

1831. He married 

336 Sally Lyman, the daugliter of 

337 Major Daniel J^yman, who, my readers will remember, Avas one 

of tiie "Arnold and Lyman Purchase." Governor 
Arnold died June 27, 1852. 



198 HISTOIIY OF WOONSOCKET. 



V 



\ 121 MERCY ARXOLD married 
338 OLIVER MANI^, Nov. IS, 1747. 
*339 Joseph. 
*340 Alfred. 
*341 Lucy. 

342 Anna, married Israel Aldricli ; no issue. 

343 Sophia ; no issue. 

\' 1 24 JACOB ARNOLD married 

344 SL^SANNA BALLOU. 
845 Susanna, born Nov. 25, 1756. 
34(5 Rolie, . . Eeb. 22, 1758. 

347 Jesse, . . April 2, 1759. 

348 Ahab. . . Nov. 17, 1760. 

349 Phebe, . . Jan, 15, 1763. 

350 Silas, . . May 21, 1765. 

351 William, . . Mav 27, 1767. 

352 David, . . April 25, 1769. 

353 Jacob, . . Feb. 18, 1771. 

1 26 WILLIAM ARNOLD married 

354 JEMIMA BALLOU. 

He was a celebrated man in his day— a deep student 
and a skilful physician. But he doubted his own 
powers, and practised in his profession but little, 
devoting his time chiefly to scientitic pursuits. His 
child Avas 
*355 Lydia. 

^' 127 PATIENCE ARNOLD married 

356 THOMAS WALL. 

357 Caleb. 

Vl28 PHILADELPHIA AENOLD married "* 

358 THOMAS WILLIAMS. He was a "straggler" in the old 

French War. 

359 Philadelphia, married Moses Aid rich. No. 273. 

ISO SARAH ARNOLD married 

360 NATHANIEL JILLSON, March 14, 1741. 
.361 Ruth. 

362 Hannah. 

363 Nathaniel. 

364 Nathan. 

365 Luke. 

366 Waite. 

367 Rhoda, married Samuel Arnold, No. 457. 

368 Abner. 

\ 131 ELISHA ARNOLD (see History) married 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 199 

309 PIIEBE MOWIIY, April 20, 1744. She was the daughter ot 
Henry Mowry. (See Mo wry gen., No. 1,157. Their 
children were : 



*.?- 



871 Rul'us, bor 

*;372 Amy, 

*;373 Ezekiel, 

.374 Alsie, 

375 Mary, 



n Feb. -), 1745 ; died Jidy 17, 1813. 
Monday, May 20, 1751. 
Oct. 23, 1753 ; died May 7, 1817. 
July 9, 1757 ; no legitimate issue. 
Jan. 1, 1763 ; no issue. 



V 132 MARTHA ARNOLD married 

370 JOHN SAYLES, jr., Dec, 19, 1742. 

377 John. 

378 Zilplia, born Iklarch 22, 1742-43. 

379 llhoda, . . July 4, 1745. 
SSO Martha, . . iVug. 18. 1747. 

381 Esek, . . Aug, IS, 1749. 

382 Ishmael, . . Dec. 1, 1751. 

383 Thomas, . . April 5, 1754. 

384 Hannali, . . June 22, 1750 ; died Dec. 4, 1759. 

385 Esther, . . Aug. G, 1758. 

W 140 SUSANNxi ARNOLD married 

386 RICHARD MAN, of Cumberland, March 10, 1755. 

387 Elijah. 



i 



141 GIDEON ARNOLD married 

388 MARY CRUFF. 

389 William. 

390 Jesse. 

391 Thomas. 

392 Margaret. 

393 Hannah. 

\j^l52 HANNAH ARNOLD married 

394 RICHARIi^MOWRY, son of Ananias, No. 1,107. 

395 William, born Aug. 23, 1777. 

390 Urana, . . April 8, 1779 ; married Daniel Farnum. 

397 Candice, . . Dec. 2, 1780. 

:]98 Darius, . . Jan. 29, 1782. 

3!)!) Arudld, .. :March 18, 1784. 

*400 Welcome, .. July 4, 1786. 

401 Richard, . . Oct. 31, 1787. 

402 Angell, . . Aug. 20, 1788. 

"n 154 MOSES ARNOLD married 

-403 BERTHIA MAN. July 7, 1737. Thev lived near I^ronument 

Square. (See History.) 
*404 Jolni. 

405 Daniel. 

406 Joseph. 

407 Marv. 

408 Sarah. 



200 HISTORY OF WOOKSOCKET. 

400 David. 

410 Martha. 

411 Susanna. 

412 Dorcas, lived witli Uriali, No. 170. 

413 Provided. 

155 DAVID ARNOLD married 

414 MERCY WHIPPLE, Eeb. 0, 174.5. They lived in Glocester. 

415 Elisha. 
410 Stephen. 

417 David. 

418 Eleazer. 

419 Daniel. 

420 Abigail. 

421 Martha. 

, 156 NOAII ARNOLD married 

422 ELLEN WHIPPLE. 

423 Noah. 

424 Ann. 

425 Sarah. 

^ 162 ELISHA ARNOLD married 
420 THEODATE MUSSAY. 

427 Oliver. 

163 BENEDICK ARNOLD married 

428 SARAH SOUTHWICK. 

429 Mary. 

430 William, married Hannah Buffum, No. 288. 

431 Dorcas. 

164 OLIVER ARNOLD married 

432 ELIZABETH ARNOLD. 

They lived at Providence. At the time of his death 
(Oct. 9, 1770) he was King's Attorney. "His great 
reputation as a lawyer arid scholar caused his death 
to be deeply lamented."— Arnold's Hist. R. I., Vol. 
II., p. 305. 

433 Mary. 

434 Alfred. 

435 Waite. 

. 170 URIAH ARNOLD married 

436 ELIZABETH PECK. 

*437 Daniel. 
*43S Elizabeth. 

He afterwards lived with, and had children by, 
Dorcas Arnold, No. 412. 

439 Fatima, no issue. 

440 Clarissa, married Henry Comstock. 



:/.: 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 201 

172 EXOCII AllNOLD maiTied 

DEBORAH C0M8T0CK, No. 240, Juno 2;], 1747. They lived 
in Cumberland. 

441 ]Jenjainin. 

442 Amy, married Aldricli. 

*44;j Joseph. 

Deborah married for her second husband 

444 AMOS ARNOLD. I think that he Avas the ancestor of 

445 Alfred Arnold, Esq. of Cumberland. 

'4 176 DORCAS ARNOLD married 
44(3 JAMES CARGILL. 

447 Rhoda. 

448 James. — 

449 David. 

450 John. 

451 Daniel. 

452 George. 

^77 ANNA ARNOLD married 

453 CALEB ARNOLD, Jan. 3, 1773. 
*454 Joseph. 

*455 Arba. 

180 NATHAN ARNOLD married 
456 LUCY CARGILL. 

*457 Samuel. 
458 Elisha, no issue. 
*4.59 Nathan. 

^184 HANNAH ARNOLD married 

4(0 SIMEON ALDRICH. They removed to New York. 

401 Mercy. 

4(52 AVaite. 

403 Anthony. 

464 Asa. 

405 Marv. 

400 Elisha. 

407 Moal). 

"^185 ABIGAIL ARNOLD married 

408 NATHAN COMSTOCK. 

409 Cyrus. 

470 Lucina. 

471 Sarah. 

<\186 LEVI ARNOLD married, lirst, 

472 ANNA ALDRICH. 

47;'. Waite. 

474 Isiael. 

475 Aldric h. 



202 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

416 Mary. 

477 Patience. 

478 Julia. 

479 Ejiliraim. 

480 Willis. 

He married, second, 

481 ISABELLA ALDRICH. 

482 Anna. 

483 Lewis. 

484 Mahala. 

^1 
A 189 GEORGE ARNOLD married 

485 ELIZABETH HADWIN. They removed to Vermont. 

486 Phebe. 

487 Hadwin. 
4S8 Olive. 

489 Elizabeth, married Daniel Thornton. 

490 Margaret. 

491 George. 

492 Maria. 
49:3 James. 

494 Sarah. 

495 Anson. 



^ 



190 PHEBE ARNOLD married 
496 LUKE ARNOLD. 

*497 Thomas. 
*49S Eliza. 

.191 JAMES ARNOLD. (See History.) He was proprietor of what 
is now the most valuable portion of the town. 
He married, first, 

499 AMY ALDRICH, She died Aug. 13, 1825, aged 62 years ; no 

issue. 

He married, second, 

500 AVATY HANDY. She died July 4, 1872, aged 84 years. 

501 Mary, married Albert Mowry, son of Barney, No, 1,189. 

502 James, died July 30, 1850, aged 22 years. 

194 ARNOLD PAINE (see History) married 
.503 JUDITH STAPLES. 
*504 Lucina. 

505 John, died Feb. 17, 1803, aged 45 years ; married Mary Aldrich, 

No. 271. 

506 Prusha, married William Aldrich, No. 266. 
*507 Dan. 

508 James, died April 26, 1833, aged 68 years ; married Lydia Aid- 
rich, No. 274. 
*509 Hyrena. 
*510 Arnold. 
*511 Caleb. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 203 

223 RUFUS BARTLETT maiiied 

512 MARGARET SMITH. 

513 Anna, married George Eallou, of Cumberland. 

514 Al])lia. 

515 Philadelphia, married Dr. Lamb. 
510 Abner. 

517 iS'athan. 
*518 Smith. 

224 ELISHA BARTLETT married 
RUTH ARNOLD, No. 323. 

519 Aljilia, married Caleb Aldricli, No. 272. 
*520 Patience. 
*521 Mary. 

522 ( Oliver, married Sarah Howe. 

533 ^Otis, .. Waits Buffmn. 

524 George. 

525 Abby. 

225 CALEB BARTLETT married 

526 SUSANNA WILSON. 

527 William. 

528 Esther. 

529 Joanna. 
*530 Stephen. 

531 Lucy, married "Uncle Luke" Aklrich. 

532 Polly. 

533 Rufus. 

534 James. 

535 Benedict. 

536 Ruth. 

537 Philadelphia. 

232 WELCOME ARNOLD married -. They lived in tlie Mos- 

hassuck valley, and had 14 children, of whom 4 grew 
up. 

538 Mary, married Tristam Burgess. 
*539 Samuel Greene. 

540 (Richard James. 

541 (Eliza Harriet, married Zachariah Allen. 

546 ALPHA COMSTOCK married 

HEZEKIAH SPRAGUE. (See No. 555.) 

For u]nvards of a century tlie Spragues were promi- 
nent actors in tlie religious and political history of 
Old Smithlield. The reader will, therefore, bear 
with nic for stoi)])ing at this \w\ut to give a brief 
account of the ancestors of Tlc/.ekiah ere I give his 
cliildren. Lik(> the ancestors oi' almost every other 
New England family, the Spragues emigrated to this 
county in "triplets." There were the inevitable 
"three brothers," one of whom settled over here, 
another over yonder, and another somewhere else. 



204 HISTOIIY OF WOONSOCKET. 

Whether or not they came over in the good ship 
"Blessing," I have liot taken the trouble to ascer- 
tain. These " three brothers " were : 

542 Ealph Sprague. 

543 Richard . . 

544 William . . 

They Avere the sons of 

545 Edward Sprague, of Upway, county of Dorset, Eng. They came 

first to Salem in 1628, and the following year removed 
to Charlestown, Mass. William married 
540 Millicent Eames, the daughter of 

547 Anthony Eames. In the Summer of 1636 the young couple re- 

moved to Hingham. The eighth cliild of this twain 
was named 

548 Jonathan Sprague. He was l)orn May 28, 1648, and in early 

manhood removed to Rhode Island. This man was 
a very prominent man in the early days of our 
colony, and a notice of him takes up a large space in 
" Staples's Annals of Providence." He lived in the 
vicinity of the lower Quaker Meeting-house. His 
son was i 

549 Jonathan Sprague. This man was a very noted Baptist clergy- 

man, and figured largely in the polemic controversies 
of his dav. Among liis children was 

550 HEZEKIAH SPRAGUE. He married Sarah , and was 

blessed with the following-named children : 

551 Lydia, born Feb. 20, 1726. 

552 Ruth, . . Dec. 26, 1727. 

553 Anne, . . Jan. 11, 1730. 

554 Hudassah, . . June 2, 1732. 

555 Mehitabel, . . March 7, 1735. 

556 Hezakiah, . . July 14, 1737. 

557 Joseph, . . Jan. 15, 1739. 

558 Sarali, . . March 15, 1742. 

559 Mercy, . . March 12, 1745. 

560 Abigail, . . Feb. 22, 1748. 

We will now return to Hezekiah and Alpha. Their 
children were : ^ 

561 Sarah, Ijorn 1768 ; married Ezekiel Angell. 

562 Ruth, . . 1771 ; . . Emor Angell. 
*563 Thomas, . . June 28, 1773 ; died Oct. 3, 1750. 

564 Jonathan. . July 4, 1776. 

565 Freelove, married Seth Simmons. 

566 ISTathan. 

SEVENTH GENERATION. 

264 SUSANNA ALDRICH married 

567 ISRAEL MOWRY, son of Elisha, No. 1,163. 

567 Gardiner. 

568 Arnold. 

569 Elisha. 

570 Caleb. 

571 Israel. 

572 Elsie. 

573 Mary. 



niSTOHY OF AVOONSOCKET. 205 

574 Aline. 

575 Sallv. 
570 AVaite. 

Isi'ael married, second, 

577 PATIENCE ALDRICII, daughter of Eobert. 

578 Kobert. 
57!) Amey. 
580 Patience. 

265 THOMAS ALDKICH married 
JOANNA ARNOLD, No. 324. 

*581 Stephen. 
*o82 George. 

583 Anna, born 1773 ; died Oct. 12, 1847 ; married Arnold Paine, No. 

510. 
*584 Philadelphia. 
*585 Mary. 
*580 (Susan. 

587 I Sally. 
*58S Rachel. 

589 Thomas. 
*bm Joanna. 

591 Dianna, married Arnold Steere, No. 772. 

266 AVILLIAM ALDRICH married 
PRUSHA PAINE, No. 500. 

592 AVelconie. 

593 AVilliam. 

594 Catharine, married Major Fisk. 

595 Lydia. 

590 Joel, married Lucy Mowry. 

267 HANNAH ALDRICII married 

597 SAMUEL WHITE, a lineal descendant of 

598 Peregrine, the first New England baby. 

599 Isaiah. 

000 Henrietta, no issue. 
*001 Lydia. 
*002 Margery. 

003 Nancy, married James Eddy. 

004 Cyntliia, . . Ezra Staples. 
*005 Mary. 

000 Hannah, married Henry Lincoln. 

007 Susan, . . Stephen Brownell, No. 971, his first Avife. 

()08 Samuel. 

009 Lucy, no issue. 

010 Sally married first, Bennett Low, and second, Thos. Rrayton. 

268 NAAMAN ALDRICII married 
MERCY ARNOLD, No. 325. 

Oil Lucy. 
*iil2 Mark. 
*013 Luke. 



20G HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 

*6U John. 
*615 Peleg. 

G16 Ali)ha, married Levi Mowry. 

617 Lewis, . . Dianna Mclntire. 

018 Maria, no issue. 

269 JOEL ALDRICH married 
DIANNA AENOLD. No. 326. 

*610 David. 

620 Dennis. 

270 AUGUSTUS ALDEICH married 
BATHSHEBA ARNOLD, No. 327. 

621 Aaron, married Farnum. 

622 Eutli, . . D. Willvinson. 

623 Arena, . . James Wilkinson. 

624 Augustus. 

025 Azaiel, married Earnum. 

*626 Arnold. 

027 Elsie, married Nathan Angell. 

028 Maria, . . Wilkinson. 

029 Alvah, . . Ballon. 

030 Julia, . . Eenner Ballon. 

271 MARY ALDEICH married 
JOHN PAINE, No. 505. 

031 Hannah, married Angell. 

032 Prusha . . White. 

*633 Tyler. 

034 Asenath, no issue. 

035 Alpha, married Wanton Mowry ; no issue. 
*036 Judith. 

*037 John J. 
038 Mary, no issue. 
630 Elizabeth, . . 

640 Lucina, 

272 CALEB ALDEICH married, first, 
ALPHA BAETLETT, No. 519. 

641 Elisha. 

*642 Ezekiel, married Eliza Daniels, No. 943. 

643 Otis, died young. 

044 Oliver, 
*045 Euth Eliza, married George C. Ballon. 

646 Mary, . . Spencer Mowry, son of Jonathan, No. 1,183. 

647 Caleb, died in infancy. 

He married, second, 
RACHEL ARNOLD, No. 328. 

648 Caleb married Sarah Ann Carroll. 
619 Stephen. 

050 George. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 207 

273 MOSES ALDRICH married, first, 
PHILADELPHIA WILLIAMS, No. 359. 

651 Collin, 

052 Paris. 

053 Philadelphia. 

054 Kobert. 

055 Joseph. 

656 Edwin. 

657 Elizabeth. 

658 John. 

659 Hiram. ' 

660 James. 

He marrietl, second, 

661 MARY SHOVE. 

662 David. 

274 LYDIA ALDRICH married 
JAMES PAINE, No. 508. 

663 Susanna. 

664 Ilyrena. 

065 Patience, died Dec. 3, 1821, aged 33 years. 

666 Alvah. 

667 Olney Whipple, died June 21, 1815, aged 22 years. 
*66S Lvdia. 

669 Sally. 

670 James Arnold, died June 30, 1835, aged 33 years. 
071 John, died March 1, 1830, aged 24 years. 

672 Mary. 

673 Judith, died Dec. 30, 1835, aged 27 years. 

674 Newton. 

275 ARNOLD ALDRICH married 

675 DOLLY LANG, Jan. 1, 1796. She was born July 23, 1774, and 

died Julv 28, 1853. 
*076 William L., liorn 9th month 22, 1796. 

*()77 Horatio Nelson. . 12th . . 27, 1798; died lltli month 8, 1871. 
*678 Dutee Ballou, ..3d .. 31,1801; .. 10th .. 2(!, 1838. 
*(i79 Laura Earned, . . 8th . . 20, 1803. 
*()80 Freelove Hale, . . 4th . . 15, 1806. 
*ti8l Des. Carpenter, . . 12th . . 29, 1808. 
682 Arnold, . . 3rd . . 9, 1811. 

*083 Otis, . . 7tli . . 25, 1813; died 8th month 7, 1838. 

684 Moses, . . 1st . . 20, 1816. 

685 James. 

285 PATIENCE BUFFUM married 
086 PLINEY EARLE. 

687 Jolui Milton, married Sarali Hussey. 

688 Thomas, .. Mary Hussey. 

689 Lydia, .. Antliouy (Uiace. 

690 Sarali, .. Chas. lladwin. 
(•.'.)1 William. 

692 lAwy, no issue. 



208 HISTOBY OF WOOKSOCKET. 

093 Eliza, married William Hacker. 
694 Jonah, no issue. 
C95 Pliney, 

286 LUCY BUFFUM married 

696 WALTER ALLEN. 

697 Lydia, born March 23, 1805. 

288 HANNAH BUFFUM married 
WILLIAM AENOLD, No. 430. 

698 Maria, married Walter BroAvn. 

699 George Benedict, married Lydia Spring, 

700 Sarah, married Eben Torrey. 

701 Lucy, no issue. 

702 Dorcas, married Benedict Smith. 

703 Mary Smith, married Seba Carpenter. 

704 Lydia. She married first, Shepherd, and second, 

Peckham. 

705 William B., married Matilda Darling. 

706 Alfred. 

289 ARNOLD BUFFUM married 

707 REBECCA GOULD, of Newport. 

708 Sarah, born March 27, 1805 ; married Hon. Nathl. B. Borden. 

709 Elizabeth, . . Dec. 9, 1806 ; . . Samuel B. Cliace. 



710 Lucy, . . May 14, 1808 ; 

711 Rebecca, . . June 10, 1810 ; 

712 Lydia, 

713 Wm. Arnold, born Aug. 24, 1824, 

714 Edward, . . April, 1826 ; 

290 WAITE BUFFUM married 
OTIS BARTLETT, No. 523. 

715 Elisha. 

716 Caroline. 

717 Delia. 

718 Rebecca. 

719 Ruth. 

720 Oliver. 

721 George. 

722 William O. 

723 Sarah. 



291 LYDIA BUFFUM married 

724 SAMUEL SHOVE. 

725 William B. 
72(5 Hannah. 

727 Nancy. 

728 Josiali. 



Rev. Nehemiah Lovell. 
Marcus Spring. 
Clement 0. Read. 
Marion Simmons. 
Eliza Wilkinson. 



>/ 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 209 

292 WILLIAM BUFFUM mnnied 

729 ANN SHELDON. 

730 Ann Vernon. 

731 Mary Lee. 

320 ELISIIA CAPRON married, first, 

732 NANCY DARLING, Dec. 29, 1819. 

733 Mary Warren, born Oct. 8, 1820 ; married D. S. Wheolock. 

734 Nathan Arnold, . . Dec. 16, 1822 ; . . L. P. Darling. 

He married, second, 

735 ABIGAIL DURFEE, May c, 1820. 
730 James, born Feb. 20, 1827 ; died young. 

737 Lydia Cashing, born Feb. 20, 1829 ; married M. P. Roberts. 

738 Nancy Darling, . . June 23, 1831 ; died young. 

739 Esther Emeline, . . March 12, 1833 ; married James T. Martin. 

740 Lucy Farnum, . . July 4, 1835 ; . . E. G. Sweatt. 

741 Sarah Arnold, . . Dec. 27, 1837 ; died young. 

742 Joseph Bantield, . . Nov. 7, 1841. 

322 ELIJAH ARNOLD married, first, 
HANNAH ARNOLD, No. 101. 

(See children of this marriage in No. 101.) 
He married, second, 

743 Mrs. DINAH REED, nee Jenckes. 

744 Diauna. 

745 Julia Ann. 

740 Thomas Jenckes. 
747 Elijah. 



^ 



329 CYRUS ARNOLD married 
RUTH ARNOLD, No. 783. 

748 Alpha, born April 18, 1799. 

749 Stephen, . . Oct. 2, 1801. 

750 Phebe, . . June 11, 1804. 

751 Infant, . . Nov. 7, 1800. 

752 Abram, . . June 1, 1809. 

753 Alvin, . . June 2, 1812. 

754 Cyrus, . . Sept. 11, 1815 ; married Celia Ann JJallou, No. 1030. 

755 Daniel, . . Sept. 30, 1819 ; died June 7, 1852. 

339 JOSEPH MANN married 
JERUSHA COMSTOCK, No. 245. 

756 Lucy, born March, 1780. 

757 Sophia, .. July, 1787; married Geo. Aldrich, No. 582; died 

1875, aged 89 years. 

758 William, . . Nov., 1788. 

340 ALFRED MANN married 

759 LYDIA METCALF. 

700 Oliver. 

761 AVilliam Metcalf. 

27 



210 niSTORY OF WOONSOCKi:!'. 

702 Stephen. 
708 Anna. 
704 Mercy. 
7<)5 Catliurine. 

706 Lydia. 

341 LUCY MANN married 

707 EZRA ALLEN. 

708 Lydia. 
70)9 Tamur. 

770 Ezra. 

" 355 LYDIA ARNOLD married 

771 RICHARD STEERE. 

772 Arnold, married Dianna Aldricli, No. 591. 
*773 Ricliard. 

774 Franklin, died young. 

775 George. 

770 Jemima, married Benjamin Speare, No. 817. 

777 Elmira. 

778 Lydia. 

371 RUEUS ARNOLD married 

779 RUTH EDDY. 

780 Asa, born 1709; died Sept. 2, 1847; married Read. 

781 Israel, married Sayles. 

782 Elisha. 

783 Ruth, born March 7, 1777; married Cyrus Arnold, No. 329, 

784 Elizabeth, married Jonathan Congden, Nov. 1, 1787. 

4 372 AMY ARNOLD married . 

785 Lucina. 

373 EZEKIEL ARNOLD married 
780 MARY CAPRON, sister to Jos. Capron, No. 307. 

787 Joel, died young. 

788 Anne, born April 3, 1780; second wife of Lapham Jeffyrs. 

789 Lvdia, . . June 20, 1785; no issue. (See History.) 

790 Abigail, . . Dec. 2, 1782; 

400 WELCOME MOWRY married 

791 JOANNA BALLOU, daughter of David. 

792 Ulysses, married Eddy. 

793 Welcome. 

794 David B., married Elis Mo wry. 

795 George, . . Desire Mowry. 
79(5 Hiram, . . Elizabeth Mann. 

797 Albert. 

798 Winsor. 

799 Emily, married Simon Phettei)lace, 

800 Haniiah, no issue, 
sm ])inah, 



> 



mSTOllY OF WUONSOCKET. l!ll 

404 JOUX ARNOLD married . ' "' ^ 

802 Daniel, 
*80:^ Ltiko. 
SOrt Joliii, married Lucina, daugliter of Alsic Arnold, No. 074. 

^437 DANIEL ARNOLD married 
805 PATIENCE REED. 
80(5 Mnria, married T. Buffum. 

807 Elizabeth, .. Daniel Ide. 

808 Eathsheba., . . Jos. Pitts. 

809 Marcus, . . first, Lucy Mann, and second, Mercy Mann. 

810 Patience, no issue. 

811 Hanson married— first, Spaulding ; second, Eliza Marsh. 

He died July 31, 1870, aged 75 years. 

812 Daniel, no issue. 



%)■ 



438 ELIZABETH ARNOLD married 

813 ELKANAH SPEAR. (See History.) 

814 Nancy, married Seth Appleliy. 

815 Arnold, . . Arba, daughter of Gideon Mowry, No. 1,170. 

816 William, no issue. 

817 Benjamin, married Jemima Steere, 776. 

818 Joseph, . . Sally Thayer. 

[ 819 Lydia, . . Rev. Chas. Bergen. 

^443 JOSEPH ARNOLD. (See History.) He owned the Social 
liroperty, married 
820 PATIENCE WILBOUR, daughter of Daniel, March 28, 1775. 
*821 Benjamin. 
*822 Smith. 
*823 Joseph P. 
*824 William. 

825 Augustus, no issue. 

826 Mary, married Luke Jenckes. 

827 Waite, . . James Aldrich. 

828 Patience, no issue. 

829 Lydia, married Luke Jenckes. 

830 Robey. 

The Luke Jenckes mentioned in above is the same 
person. 

^454 JOSEPH ARNOLD married 

831 BARBARY DUTICOTT. 

832 George. 

833 Abraham. 

834 Charles. 

455 ARBA ARNOLD mar 

835 ISi\DELLA DAVIS 

836 Ann. 

837 Lydui. 

838 Mary. 



212 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

' 457 SAMUEL ARNOLD married, lirst, Aldrich. 

839 Polly. 

840 Leonard. 

He married, second, 
RHODA JILLSON", No. 367. 

841 Welcome, 

842 Savannah. 

459 NATHAN ARNOLD married 

843 ESTHER DARLING. 

844 Nathan. 

845 Lucy, married Nathan Ballon. 

846 Esther, no issue. 

847 Nancy, married Smith Daniels. 

848 Seth. This gentleman is our townsman, Dr. Seth Arnold. He 

was horn Feb. 26, 1799. 

849 Amos, married Lucy Darling. 

^. 497 THOMAS ARNOLD married . 

850 Franklin. 

851 Arthur. 

498 ELIZA ARNOLD married 

852 DAN A. DANIELS. (See History.) He was son of James 

Arnold's (No. 191) first wife's sister. 

504 LUCINA PAINE married 

853 STEPHEN WHIPPLE. 

854 Bela. 

855 James. 

856 Sarah. 

857 Betsey. 

858 Prusha. 

859 Anne. 

860 Welcome. 

507 DAN. PAINE was twice married. Among his children were : 

861 Anna married— first, Amos Thayer ; second, Aldrich. 

862 Hamilton. 

863 Horace. 

509 HYRENA PAINE married 

864 OLNEY THOMPSON. (See Cook genealogy. No. 1,393.) 

865 Fenner. 

866 Nancy. 

867 Lewis. 

868 Arnold. 

869 Olney. * 

870 Hyrena. 1 

871 Mary. (These do not exactly agree with the four last chil- 

872 Phebe. f dren which I enumerate in the Cook genealogy. 

873 AVilliam. J 



IIISTOUY OF WOONSOCKET. 213 

510 ARNOLD PAINE mamed 
ANNA ALDRICH, No. 583. 

874 Thomas A. (See History.) lie was born Jan. 28, 1790. 

875 Ann Eliza, born Sept., 1803; no issue. 

511 CALEB PAINE married 
870 DORCAS. MOWRY. 

877 Senter. 

878 Mary. 

879 Arnold. 

880 Milley. 

881 Arena. 

882 Dorcas. 

883 Caleb. 

518 SMITH BARTLETT married 

884 NANCY RUSSELL. They lived in Canada. They had six 

children. Among these were : 

885 William. 

880 Hon. John R. 

520 PATIENCE BARTLETT married 

887 DANIEL JENCKES. 

888 Henry. 

889 Mary. 
8iX) Amelia. 

891 Sarah. 

892 George. 

893 John. 

894 A girl. 

521 MARY BARTLETT married 

895 COMSTOCK PASSMORE. 

890 George. 
ts97 William. 

898 Joanna. 

899 John. 

900 Elizabeth. 

901 Otis. 

530 STEPHEN BARTLETT married 

902 LAVINA SAYLES. 

903 Elisha. 

904 Philadelphia, married William II. Andrews. 

905 Minerva. 

539 SAMUEL GREENE ARNOLD married . He had eiglit 

children, o{' whom two grew up. 
900 Gordelia married T. R. (rreene. 
907 Samuel Greene. This man was Lieutenant-Governor of Rhode 

Island, and is the historian of the State. 



214 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

563 THOMAS SPEAGUE married 

90S DINAH FENN'EK. She was born Nov. 9, 1772, and died Nov. 
26, 1833. 

909 Josepli, born Dec, 1794; died Feb. 22, 1796. 

910 Jolm, . . June 9, 1799; drowned Nov. 26, 1835. 
. Sept. 14, 1802; died Dec. 27, 1802. 
. Julv 8, 1805; . . Oct. 13, 1866. 
. Aug. 3, 1808; . . Aug. 8, 181.5. 
. April 9, 1810; . . March 8, 1873. 
. Feb. 14, 1812. 

EIGHTH GENERATIOX. 



911 Edward Fenner 

912 Sarali Fenner, 

913 Thomas, 

914 Lvdia, 

*915 Ed. Hezekiah, 



581 STEPHEN ALDEICH married 

916 MERCY SMITH. 

917 Warner. 

918 Mary. 

919 Thomas. 

920 Stephen. 
621 Joanna. 

582 GEORGIE ALDRICII married 
STEPHEN MANN, No. 757. 

He kept tavern at tlie Union Village. 

922 Alice, married James Lees. 

923 Lucy, .. James Bushee. 

924 William J. 

925 Wellington, the "Iron Duke." 

926 Anna. 

927 Dianna. 

928 George. 

929 Sophia. 

584 PHILADELPHIA ALDRICH married WHEELOCK. 

930 Paris. 

931 Silas. 

932 Polly. 

933 Submit. 

934 Marcus. 

935 David. 

936 Phebe. 

585 MARY ALDRICH married 

937 ROBERT MOAVRY. 

938 Martha. 

939 Mary. 

940 George. 

941 Robert. 

586 SUSAN ALDRICH married 

942 SAMUEL DANIELS. 

943 Eliza, married Ezekiel Aldrich, No. 42. 



mSTORV OF W00NS0CK15T. 2lr) 

588 EACIIEL ALDKICII iiKiiTied 
044 ADOLPIIUS JACOBS. 

945 William. 
!)4U David. 

590 JOANNA ALDRICII manied 

047 EDWAKD IIOTCIIKISS. 

048 Edward. 

591 DIANNA ALDRICII married 
ARNOLD STEERE, No. 772. 

040 William, married Ruth Nichols. 
O.'jO Joanna. 

9.51 Isis. 

9.52 Edward. 

601 LYDIA WHITE married 

9.53 DUTEE BALLOU. 

954 Eensalier. 

955 Almira. 

956 Hannah. 

957 Dutee. 

958 Daniel. 
9.59 Lydia. 

960 Samuel Willard. 

602 MARGERY WHITE married 

961 DEXTER ALDRICH. 

962 Cyrus. He was member of ConftTess from Minnesota durinj,' 

Lincoln's Administration. 

963 Simon. 

964 Dexter. 

965 Alpheus. 

966 lienjamin. 

967 Hannah. 

968 Cynthia. 

969 Mary. 

970 Abby. 

605 IklARY AVIIITE married 

971 STEPHEN F. BROWNELL. She was his second wife. 

972 Hannah, married Warren B. Mowry, son of William, No. 305. 

973 Susan, . . George Darling. 

074 Isaac, . . Polly Young. 

075 Stephen, .. Henrietta Hunt. 
07() Samuel, died young. 

077 Lucy Maria, . . 

078 Dexter L., married Elizabeth, daugliter of Seba Car]ientoi', No. 

703. 
070 Unvy W. 



2l6 HISTOIM'^ OF WOONSOCKBT. 

612 MAKK ALDEICII married 

980 SALLY NICHOLS. 

981 Alpha, married Daniel Fuller. 

613 LUKE ALDRICH married, first, 

982 ^^AN^CY NICHOLS. 

983 Mercy, married Willard Taft. 

984 Lucy, . . Arnold Aldricli. 

985 Stei)hen Arnold. 

98(3 Harriet, married Stephen H. Thayer. 

987 Eliza, . . David Holman. 

988 Alpha, . . Augustus Drown. 

He married, second. 

989 LUCINDA THAYER. 

990 Seth E., married Cath. S. Southwick. 

991 Mercy Maria . . Jos. S. Clarke. 

992 Edwin R., . . first, Ellen Raynor; second, Mary Williams. 

993 Benjamin F. . . Uranah Mowry. 

994 Sarah A., . . Cyrus G. Murdoch. 

995 Moses. 

614 JOHN ALDRICH married 
990 HANNAH SMITH. 

997 Armina. 

998 John. 

615 PELEG ALDRICH married 

999 MARY ALDRICIL 

1000 Martin. 

1001 Sarah. 

1002 Elsie. 

619 DAVID ALDRICH married a daughter of Stephen Whipple, 
No. 853. 

1003 Celia, married C. C. Mowry, 

1004 Lucius, . . Lucy Ide. 

1005 Whipple, . . Comstock. 

626 ARNOLD ALDRICH married 

1006 MERCY ALDRICH. 

1007 Augustus M. 

1008 William D. 

1009 Sarah. 

1010 Cyrus. 

633 TYLER PAINE married 

1011 ALICE BASSETT. 

1012 Albert. 

1013 Mary. 

1014 Steplien. 

1015 Asenatli. 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 217 

lUK) n)avi(I. 
1017 Lewis. 
lOlS William. 

1019 Addison. 

1020 Tyler. 

1021 LydiaE. 

636 JUDITH PAINE married 

1022 LEWIS WHIPPLE, sou of Asa. • 
102:J Ferdinand. 

*1024 Lewis. 

637 JOHN J. PAINE married 
1025 OLIVE HALL. 

102() Elizabeth. 

1027 Sarah. 

1028 Alpha. 

1029 Juliet. 

1030 Lucina. 

1031 Mary. 

1032 John J. 

642 EZEKIEL ALDRICH married 
ELIZA DANIELS, No. 943. 

1033 Susan Emeline, married Oliver W. May. 

1034 Caroline Eliza, . . William A. Mowry. 

645 RUTH ELIZA ALDRICII married 

1035 GEORGE C. BALLOU. (See History.) 
1030 Celia Ann, married Cyrus Arnold, No. 754. 

1037 Alpha, . . Peter Brown. 

1038 Allby, . . Charles Robinson. 

1039 David, . . Emily Stetson, 

668 LYDIA PAINE married 

1040 JOSEPH RAY. He was a machine builder, and a man liinhly 

respected in his day. He lived at East Blackstoiie. 
Among his children the reader will recognize the 
members of the Arm of Messrs. James P. & James 
G. Ray. 

1041 Mary, born 1816; died young. 

1042 Lucius, . . 1819; 

1043 James P., .. Aug. 1, 1820. 

1044 Francis B., . . May 15, 1823. 

1045 Marion, . . 1828; died young. 
1()4() Joseph G., . . Oct. 4, 1831. 

676 WILLIAM L. ALDRICII married 
1047 ANNA JILLSON, 1st month 31, 1827. 
1848 Elizabetli. 
1019 Henry Clay. 
28 



'218 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

1050 Fred. 

1051 Infant. 

1052 Susan. 

1053 Anna. 

677 IIOKATIO N. ALDRICII niarried 

1054 LYDIA KEENE. 

1055 Joseph. 
1050 Avis. 

1057 Moses Arnold. 

1058 Joseph. 

1059 Elizabeth. 

1000 Louisa. 

678 DUTEE B. ALDllICII married 

1001 HANNAH HEAD, 5tli month 1, 1823. 
10G2 Charles E., married Martha Ilurlljurt. 
10(53 Laura Earned, . . Reuel P. Smith. 
1004 Abby Jane, . . Abraham Pennock. 
10(i5 Wm. Herbert, . . Lois Andrews, 
1006 Arnold, unmarried. 

679 LAURA L. ALDRICII married 

1067 EARLE CIIACE, 6th month 1, 1826. 

1068 Carolina, died young. 

1069 Eliza Borden, married Niles A iftaet i . jU^wV^'^ 

1070 Caroline, . . Sidney Bateman, ^ 

1071 ]\Iary Arnold, died young. 

1072 Waldo Earle, 

680 EREELOVE IL ALDRICII married 

1073 LEVI LAPHAM, 11th month 8, 1831. 

1074 Sarah. 

1075 Elizabetli, died young. 

1076 Levi Arnold. 

1077 Laura Ellen. 

681 DESIAII CARPENTER ALDRICII married 

1078 NORRIS PHILBRICK, Sept. 13, 1849. lie died Sept. 29, 1871. 

1079 Mary Dollie, married Edgar M. Slocumb. 

683 OTIS ALDRICII married 

1080 ELIZABETH ALLEN, Otli month 22, 1834. 

1081 Leeman. 

1082 Marshall. 

1083 Moses. 

773 RICHARD STEERE married - 

1084 Richard. 

1085 Franklin A. 

1086 Roger. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 21[) 

803 LUKE ARNOLD inaiiieil b^ 

1087 LYDTA FREEMAN. 

*1088 Wliii)]»le. ' ' $^ 

108!) Aniiisa. 
louo Freeman. . , 

*l()i)l Olney. . -^'"^ki 

W.Yi Alvin. 
vm Sophia. 

1094 Lydia, married George Harrington. 
10!).") Anna, . . Welcome Bnssey. 
109G Mary, . . James Follett. 
I 
Y- 821 BENJAMIN ARNOLD married 
1097 LAVINA COOK. 

They lived near M'here Smith Brown's house now 
stands. His estate extended from thence to Cold 
Spring Grove. 
1008 Aaron Clarke, died young. 

1099 Emory Cook, born Aug. 19. 1805. 

1100 Micajah Collins, . . 1807. 

1101 Julia Ann. 

1102 ]leuben Allen. 

1103 Lavina. 



\ 



822 SMITH ARNOLD married, first, 

1104 SUSAN HALL. He married, second, 

1105 MARY EARLE. 

He was one of the original proprietors of the Social 
Manufacturing Company. 
110() Jonathan Earle. 

1107 Susan Hall, born April 9, 181G; married James M. Cook, No. 

1,511. 

1108 Joseph Augustus. 

\ 823 JOSEPH P. ARNOLD married 
1190 ROSINA JENCKES. 

1110 Lewis B. 

1111 Aliiman. 

1112 ]j0uisa M., married Augustus Adlington. 
111:5 Sarah A., .. (Jeorgo (I Wilder. 

1114 Lucion J. 

1115 Eli/.al)oth C, married Loriug Boydcn. 
llKi Mary E. 

1117 Alice /\., married B. W. Jolmson. 

1118 Helen M. 

1119 Emily B., married Orlando Stetson. 

\^824 WILIJAM ARNOLi:* married 

1120 SARAH AV. FULLEIJ, daughter of John. 

1121 Aluiii-a, born March 10, 1807; inanicd Hugli E. Cole. 

1122 Chirissa, .. Aug. 29, 1808; .. Isaac EIsIjh'c. 
112:', Mar v . I., .. Feb. IC, 1812; .. Tlioinas JMiller. 



220 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Uiii Patience, bovn Yeh. IS, 1814; married Josepli Golf. 

1125 James, . . Aus. 9, 1810. 

1126 Lydia, . . 18,30; married George Russell. 



915 

1127 
1128 
1129 
1130 
1131 
1132 
1133 
1134 
1135 



EDWARD H. SPRAGUE (see History) married 

CLARA P. SMITH. 

Tliomas, born May 15, 184.5. 

Mary Comstock, . . Dec. 7, 1847. 



Edward H. 
Clara P., 
Fannie ^V., 
Susan L., 
William T., 
John, 



Dec. 11, 1849; died Marcli 31, 1876. 

Oct. 8, 1851. 

Feb. 6, 1853. 

Aug. 19, 1856; died Xov. 28, 1864. 

Aug. 4, 1858. 

Oct. 12, 1861; died Oct. 27, 1864. 



NINTH GENERATION. 

1024 LEWIS WHIPPLE marrried 

1136 SUSAK SHELDON. 

1137 George A. 

1138 Sophia. 

1139 John Paine. (See History.) 

1140 Sarah. 

1141 Lydia. 



1088 

1142 
1143 
1144 
1145 
1146 

1091 

1147 
1148 
1149 
1150 
1151 
1152 
1153 
1154 



WHIPPLE ARNOLD married 

BETSEY CAPROX, I^o. 312. She was the mother of 

John Bartlett. 
Whipple. 
Learned Scott. 
Mary. 
Sarah. 



OLXEY ARNOLD married 
MARCELLA SAYLES. 

Olney J., born Oct. 5, 1795. 
Sept. 5, 1803. 



\'o 



^^^ 



.'^ 



Marcella 
Adaline F., 

Amasa S., 
Emily S., 
1 Marcella S 
> Olney J., 



Feb. 13, 1824. 
Dec. 28, 1825. 
Feb. 11, 1831. 
Nov. 24, 1833. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 221 

THE MOWllY FAMILY. 

I AM sorry that I am not permitted to give a fuller account of this 
prolific family. But I am solaced by the fact that the work is in 
abler hands than mine, and that in a short time the history of this 
race, which has played so prominent a part in the affairs of Old 
Smithfield, will be given to the world with accuracy and skill. I 
have only allowed myself to trace the ancestry of those members of 
the family who intermarried with other families which I have given, 
or that are of general historic interest. 

FIRST GENEKATION. 

Two brothers of the name of Mowry, and a man by the name of 
Edward Inman, purchased a large tract of land of tlie Indians in 
1G(56. (See History.) This tract of land included Avhat is now the 
Smithfield portion of our town. The names of the brothers were: 
*1155 Nathaniel Mowry. 
*11.jG John Mowry. 

1155 NATHANIEL MOWIIY married 
JOHANNA, the daughter of 

Edward Inman. Nathaniel was sixty-six years of age, Jan. 10, 
1710. He died March 24, 1717-18. He had eleven 
children. Among these were : 
*1157 Henry. 
*1158 Joseph. 

Mary. (See No. 48 Arnold genealogy.) 

1156 JOHN MOWEY. 

Among his children was 
*11.59 John. 

SECOND GENERATION. 

1157 HENRY MOWRY married, first, 

1160 MARY BULL, Nov. 27, 1701. Slie Avas daughter of 

1161 Isaac Bull. 

He had seven children. Among these were : 
*1162 Uriah, born Aug. 15, 1705. 
*1163 Elisha. 

Phebe. (See No. 369 Arnold gen.) 

Henry married, second, 
HANNAH MOWRY, the widow of his cousin John, Jan. 4, 
1733-34. He died Sept. 23, 1759. 

1158 JOSEPH JkfOWRY married 
1164 ALICE WinPPLE. 

Among his five children were: 
*1165 Joseph, born Feb. 2(), 1698. 

Waite, .. .Tune 6, 1716. (See 160 Arnold gen.) 



222 lilSTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 

1159 JOHN MOWRY married, first, 
110(3 MARGERY WHIPPLE, April 18, 1701. She was rtau^^liter of 

Eleazer Whipple, and sister to Hannah, tlie first 

wife of William Arnold. (See No. 49.) They had 

eight children. Among these was : 
*11G7 Ananias, born 1705. 

John afterwards married 
1108 HANNAH PARKER, July 9, 1722, and after his death slie 

l)ecame the second wife of Henry Mowry, No. 1,157. 

John and Hannah had two children. 

THIRD GENERATION. 

1162 URIAH MOWRY married, first, 

1169 URANIA — — . She rewarded him with nine children. Their 
seventli child, spoken of at this day as a celebrated 
physician, was 
*1770 Jonathan, born March 10, 1741-42. 
Uriah married, second, 
Hannah Arnold (see No. 145), who was the fourth wife of Wm. 
Arnold. 

1163 ELISHA MOWRY married 
1171 PATIENCE MAN, Oct. 2, 1743. 

They had nine children. Among these was 
Israel. (See No. 567 Arnold gen.) 

1165 JOSEPH MOWRY married his second cousin, 

MARGERY MOWRY, the daughter of John, No. 1,159. 
They had six cliildren. Among these was 
*1172 Eleazer, born Sept. 5, 1750. 

1167 ANANIAS MOWRY married 
1173 ZERUIAH ANGELL, March 2, 1745. 

They had eight children. Among these were: 
*1174 Philip, born March 2, 1738. 
*1175 Davicl, .. Sept. 28, 1743. 

*1176 Gideon, .. Feb. 20. 1746. Known as "Lawyer Gid." 
Richard, . . April 29, 1748. (See No. 394 Arnold gen.) 

FOURTH GENERATION. 

1170 Dr. JONATHAN ARNOLD married 
1177 DEBORAH WING. She was born 5th month 27, 1750, and 
died 7th month 13, 1825, aged 75 years. She re- 
Avarded him with ten children. Among these were : 
*1178 Caleb. 

Robert. (See No. 937 Arnold gen.) 
*1179 Deborah. 

1172 ELEAZER MOWRY married 
1180 EUNICE ALDRICII, March 27, 1773, wlio gave him twelve 
children. Among these Avas 
*1181 Eleazer, born Sept. 7, 1791. 



HISTORY OP WOONSOCKET. 223 

1174 PHILIP MOWHY married 

1182 ELIZABETH NEWELL, Oct. 28, 1762. 

They had ten children. Among these was 
*118G Jonathan, born A])ril W, 17(53. 

1175 DAVID MOWKY married 
11S4 PHEBE PAINE, Nov. 8, 17(57. 

They had seven children. Among these were: 
1185 David, knov/n in the last generation as "King David Mowry." 
*1186 Phebe. 

1176 GIDEON MOWKY married 

1187 HANNAH SMITH, Dec. 14, 17(54. 

They had twelve cliildren. Among these was: 
Arba, born Oct. 6, 1782. (See No. 815 Arnold gen.) 

FIFTH GKKERATION. 

1178 CALEB MOWRY married 

1188 NANCY MOWRY, daughter of David, No. 1,175. 

Among their four children was 
*11S0 Barney, born May 3, 1804. 

1179 DEBORAH MOWRY married 

1190 EPHRAIM COE, son of John, 10th month 27, 1808. 

1191 Anna, born 11th mo. 27, 1809; married Abner Aldrich, 5th mo. 

17, 1838. 

1192 Emor, born 3d mo. 24, 1812; married Maiy A. Wilkinson, 11th 

mo. 8, 18:32. 

1193 Rebecca, born 3d mo. 27, 1814; married Abel C. Munroe, 2d mo. 

G, 1845. 

1194 Infant born 20th mo. 24, 1816. 

1195 John, born 10th mo. 30, 1817; not married. 

1196 Sarah P., born 12th mo. 24, 1819; married N. A. Bryant, Gth 

mo. 10, 1840. 

1197 Martin, born 10th mo. 30, 1821; married Louisa J. Ballon, 10th 

mo. i;i, 1842. 

1198 Juliette, born 2d mo. 16, 1824; married Leonard Cartlin. 

1199 William E . . 4th mo. 24, 1828; . . Rutli H. ]3acon. 

1181 ELEAZER MOWRY married 

1200 MARCY BALLOU, daughter of Benjamin. 

1201 Abner Ballon, born Se])t. 22, 1814. 

1202 Wm. Bainbridge, . . March 9, 1816. 

1203 Content Ballou, .. June 22, 1817. 

1204 John O., . . Feb. 24, 1820. 

1183 JONATHAN MOWRY married, first, 

1205 PATIENCE TWIT('HELL. 

Among their live children was 



224 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

1205^ Levi, married Alpha Aldricli. Ko. GIG Arnold geii. 
He married, second, 

1206 Euth Mclntire. 

Among their seven children was 
Spencer, born Nov. 27, 1802 ; married Mary Aldrich, No. G4G 
Arnold gen. 

1186 PHEBE MOWRY married 

1207 BENEDICT, son of Stephen Mowry, Jan. 17, 1799. 

1208 Simon. 

1209 Eenner. 
*1210 Phebe Amy. 

1189 BARNEY MOWRY married, first, 
T211 PHILA MOWRY. 

1212 Orin Pratt, born May 24, 1829. 

Albert, .. March 9, 1831; married Mary Arnold, No. 501 

Arnold gen. 

1213 Arlon, born Feb. 23, 1833. 

1214 Stafford, .. April 14, 1835. 

1215 ^.twell, . . Nov. IS, 1836. 

He married, second, 

1216 URANA STEERE. 

1210 PHEBE AMY MOWRY married 
ALBERT COOK. 

(See Cook gen.. No. 1,536. 

THE DESCENDANTS OF WALTER COOK OR COOKE. 

FIRST GENERATION. 

1217 Walter Cooke, in 1643, was a resident of Weymouth, Mass. He 

was admitted freeman in 1G53. Among his sons 
were : 

1218 Ebenezer. 

*1219 Walter, died Jan. 5, 1695. 

1220 Nicholas. 

1221 John. 

SECOND GENERATION. 

1219 WALTER COOK married CATHARINE . 

The marriage took place Feb. 3, 1695. He removed 

to Mendon in 1663. 
*1222 Samuel. 
*1223 John. 
*1224 Nicholas. 
1225 Elizabeth, married Peter Aldrich. 

THIRD GENERATION. 

1222 SAMUEL COOK married Lydia . 

He lived on the Mendon road near the Rliode Island 
line. He was a mason by trade. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 225 



122G Experience, born July 5, 1GS2. 
•■1227 Ebeiiezer, .. Oct. 28, 1684. 



1228 Eydiir, 

1229 Ilaniuili, 

1230 Samuel, 
"1231 Walter, 



March 18, 1687. 
Sei)t. 29, 1G95. 
July 11, 1G98. 
March 18, 1701. 



1223 JOIIX COOKE married 

1232 XAOMI THAYER. 

Lived at Uxbridge. 

1233 John, born Jan. 27, 1685. 
*1234 Joiiatliai), . . Feb. 27, IGSG. 

123.5 Catharine, . . Aug. 3, 1687. 
123G Naomi, . . March 13, 1093. 

1224 NICHOLAS COOKE married 

1237 JOANNA ROCKWOOI). 

Lived in what is now J>lackstone. 

1238 Josiah, born Aug. 29, 1685. 
* 1239 Nicholas, .. June 10, 1G87. 

1240 Johannah, . . Feb. 13, 1089. 

1241 Marv, . . Oct. 9, 1690. 

1242 Ann, . . March 4, 169.5. 
*1243 Seth, .. April 28, 1699. 
*1244 Daniel, . . Aug. 18. 1703. 

1245 David, . . Nov. 15, 1705. 

1246 Abigail, . . Oct. 4, 1707. 
*1247 Noali, . . 1710; died 1771. 

FOURTH GENERATION. 

1227 EBENEZER COOKE (see History) married, first, 

1248 HULDAII IIAYAVARD. 

They lived where the "Social" now is. He after- 
wards, after disposing of his estate to the Arnolds, 
removed to what is now Burrillville. 

1249 Sarah, l)orn July 24, 1711. 

1250 Elijah, . . April 5, 1713. 

1251 JJcnjamin, . . June 5, 1715. 
*1252 Elisha, .. Ajjril 21, 1717. 

1253 Huldah, . . Oct. 2(5, 1719. 

1254 Ebenezer, . . June 1.5, 1722. 

He married, second, EXPERIENCE . 

1255 Michael, born Dec. 10, 1727. 

1256 Amos, .. Sept. 9, 1732. 

1257 Experience,.. Sept. 8, 1734. 

1258 Samuel, . . Oct. 8, 1735. 
12.59 Silas, . . Aug. 8, 1736. 
r2(:0 Sarah, . . Dec. 10, 1740. 
1261 Dorcas, . . June 2(), 174(i. 

1231 WALTER COOKE married 
12G2 MARGERY CORBETT. 
29 



22G HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

1203 Ichabod, born Oct. 15, 1727. 

1264 Kachel, . . Oct. 28, 1730. 

1265 Mercy, . . Oct. 31, 1728. 

1266 Margery, . . Aug. 18, 1734. 

1207 Hannali, . . Sept. 18, 1743. 

1234 JONATHAN" COOK married 

1208 MEHITABLE STAPLES. 

Thev lived at the Uxbridge homestead. 

1209 Marv, l)oni Jan. 29. 1719. 
*1270 Naomi, . . Oct. 20, 1721. 

1271 Abigail, . . July 20, 1720. 

*1272 Mehitable, . . Jan. 25, 1723. 

1273 Hannah, . . Eeb. 14, 1725. 

1274 John, . . Eeb. 19, 1728. 

1275 Jonathan, . . Oct. 31, 1732. 

1239 NICHOLAS COOKE married 

1270 ELIZABETH STAPLES. 

They lived on the Kehoboth road, "on the Belling- 
ham side of the line which divides that town from 
Mendon." 

*1277 Jemima, born Nov. 10, 1716. 

*1278 Nathaniel, . . Sept. 15, 1718. 
1279 Peter, . . Aug. 26, 1720. 

*1280 Daniel, . . Sept. 12, 1722. 

*1281 William, . . Dec. 12, 1724. 

*1282 Caleb, . . Sept. 25, 1727. 

1283 Elizabeth, . . July 15, 1729. 

1284 Abigail, . . Nov, 1, 1731. 
*r285 Nicholas, . . Eeb. 7, 1733. 

1286 Susanna, . . March 0. 1738. 
*1287 Ezekiel, . . June 19, 1744. 

1243 SETH COOK married EXPEEIENCE . 

1288 Seth, born March 27, 1720. 

1244 DANIEL COOK married SUSANNAH . 

1289 Jamerson, born June 17, 1725. 

1247 NOAH COOK married, first, 

1290 KEZIAH ALBEE... 

*r291 Hannah, born Sept. 28, 1740. 

1292 Susannah, . . Eeb. 26, 1742. 

1293 Abigail. 
*1294 Ichabod. 

He married, second, 
1295 OLIVE GASKILD. 
*1296 Arthur, born Nov. 30, 1700. 

1297 (Esek, .. Jan. 8, 1703. 

1298 )Lucretia, .. " " 

1299 j Olive, ., April 1, 1707. 

1300 jNoah, ,. '• 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 227 

1301 Keziah, born July 27, 1770. 

His widow, Olive, married 
>1302 DANIEL WILCOX, of Cumberland, in 177G. 

FIFTH GENERATION, 

1252 ELISHA COOKE married . 

He lived in the northeast part of Burrillville. 

1303 Stephen. 

1304 Israel, born July 31, 1747. 

1270 NAOMI COOK married 

1305 BENJAMIN WHITE, of Uxbridge. 

1306 Levi, born Jan. 30, 1744. 

1307 Paul, . . Sept. 18, 1746. 

1308 Molly, . . Feb. 19, 1748. 

1309 Jonathan, . . Oct. 30, 1752. 

1310 Gideon. . . Oct. 18, 1755. 

1311 Bethany, . . Aug. 2, 1756. 

1312 ^Hepsibah, .. March 6, 1762. 

1313 /.Beulah, .. 

1272 MEHITABLE COOK married 

1314 PAUL TAFT, of Uxbridge. 

1315 Margaret, born Nov. 14, 1751. 

1316 Catharine, . . Feb. 26, 1753. 

1317 Prudence, .. Nov. 10, 1756. 

1318 (Mary, .. June 26, 1763. 

1319 (Marcy, 

1277 JEMIMA COOK married 

1320 AARON THAYER, of Mendon. 

1321 Hannah, born March 12, 1739. 

1322 Elizabeth, . . Oct. 29, 1740. 

1323 Jemima, . . Sept. 14, 1742. 

1324 Benjamin, . . April 16, 1744. 

1325 Susanna, . . April 23, 1746. 

1326 Rachel, . . March 26, 1748. 

1327 Joanna, . . Feb. 16, 1750. 

1328 Urania, . . Aug. 12, 1752. 

1329 Fiona. . . May 9, 1754. 

1330 Lavina, . . Jan. 30. 1756. 

1331 Aaron, . . Feb. 26, 1758. 

1332 Elijah, . . Aug. 12, 1760. 

1333 Phebe, . . Aug. 17, 1762. 

1278 NATHANIEL COOK married 

1334 MARTHA ]iALLOU. 

He settled in Cumberland. AVas a Baptist clergy- 
man, and known as Elder Natlianiel. He was the 
first minister at the Elder Ballon Meeting-house. 



228 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET, 



*1335 
1336 
1337 

1338 
*1339 

1340 
*1341 
*1342 
*1343 
*1344 
*1345 



He was succeeded by Elder Abner Ballon, I'rom 
whom the meetins-lioiise took its name, 
Nathaniel, born April 14, 1748. 



Jerusha, 

James, 

Ellas, 

Ariel, 

Martha, 

Silas, 

Phebe, 

Elizabeth, 

Judith, 

Ananias, 



April 2, 1743. 
July 23, 1744. 
Aug. 15, 1740. 
Oct. 15, 1749. 
Sept. 18, 1751. 
March 23, 1753. 
Jan. 15, 1755. 
April 25, 1757. 
June 19, 1759. 
June 12, 1761. 



1280 

1346 
1347 
1348 
1349 
1350 
1351 
1352 
1.353 
1354 
1355 
1356 
1357 



DANIEL COOK married ELIZABETH 
Jemima, born Jan. 29. 1748. 



John, 

David, 

Joanna, 

Daniel, 

Elizabeth, 

Phebe, 

Seth, 

Abigail, 

Joseph, 

Elias, 

Lavinia, 



Aug. 6, 1749. 
Nov. 8, 1751. 
Feb. 3, 1754. 
April 11, 1756. 
Eeb. 16, 1758. 
April 10, 1763. 
Jan. 27, 1765. 
March 20, 1767. 
April 14, 1769. 
Dec. 30, 1770. 
Dec. 21, 1760. 



1281 

1358 
1359 
1360 
1361 
1362 
1363 
1364 
1365 



WILLIAM COOK married PRISCILLA 
Samuel, born Nov. 10, 1755. 



Susanna, 

Sylvanus, 

James, 

Catharine, 

Priscilla, 

Lucretia, 

William, 



Nov. 30, 1756. 
Sept. 5, 1758. 
June 7, 1760. 
March 6, 1763. 
April 26, 1765. 
April 17, 1767. 
March 11, 1770. 



1282 CALEB COOK married PROVIDED 

1366 5 Abigail, born June 19, 1754. 

1367 } George, . , 

1368 Olive, . . March 30, 1756. 

1369 Freelove, . . Dec. 21, 1757. 

1370 Patience, . . Oct. 30, 1760. 

1371 Savil, . . Oct. 22, 1763. 

1372 Jeremiah, . . Oct. 10, 1765. 

1373 Simon, . . Dec. 8, 1770. 

1374 ElizaV)eth, . . Aug. 31, 1772. 



1285 NICHOLAS COOK married 
1375 PHILLIS JILLSON. 
137<5 Uriah, born June 27, 1760. 
1377 Lutinea, . . March 14, 1764. 



JIlSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 229 

i:578 Jereraiali, born Aug. 4, 1766. 

1379 Lydia, . . Oct. 13, 1768. 

1380 Calvin, . . March 4, 1771. 

1381 William, . . April 10, 1773. 

1287 EZEKIEL COOK married 

1382 JERUSHA I3ALL0U. 

1383 Zira, born May 0, 17G4. 

1384 Ezekiel, . . Aug. 18, 1771. 

1385 Urania, . . Sept. 18, 1775. 
13S6 Jerusha, . . Nov. 10, 1777. 

1387 Eunace, . . Jan. 26, 1780. 

1388 Naluim, . . Sept. 21, 1782. 

1389 Esther, . . Nov. 22, 1784. 

1291 HANNAH COOK married 

1390 EDWARD THOMPSON. 

They lived near the Five Corners at Blackstone. 
*1391 Abner, Ijorn April 3, 1761. 
1392 Olnev, died young. 

*1393 Olney, born July'^31, 1767. (See No. 864.) 
*1394 Hannah, . . 1771. 

1294 ICHABOD COOK married 
1395 ELIZABETH SMITH. 

*1396 Ariel. 

1397 Ichabod. 

1398 Hannah, born Jan. 14, 1773. 

1399 Samuel. 

1296 ARTHUR COOKE married 

1400 rillLENA BALLOU. 

1401 Eliza, born 1785. 

1402 Vienna, .. 1788. 

1403 Pauline, . 1789. 

1404 Aurilla. . . 1792. 

1405 Arthur Fenner, . . 1795. 

1406 Noah, . . 1798. 

1407 Comfort Thompson, . . 1801. 

1408 Arthur, . . 1803. 

1409 Barton, . . 1806. 

1410 Tallman, .. 1810. 

SIXTH GENKKATION. 

1335 NATHANIEL COOK married 

1411 AMEY WHIPPLE. 

1412 Esek, born Dec. 29, 1768. 

1413 Jerusha, .. Sei)t. 7, 1770. 

1414 Aniasa, . . Jan. 9, 1772. 

1415 "Whipple, . . May 2:5, 1773. 
1-116 ^\mey. May 7, 1775. 



230 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



1417 Martha, born Jiuie 17, 1777. 

1418 Nathaniel, . . Feb. 7, 1779. 
*1419 Nahum, . . Nov. 19, 1782. 



1339 

1420 

*1421 

*1422 

*1423 

1424 

*1425 

1426 

1427 

*1428 



AKIEL COOK married 
DORCAS WHIPPLE. 

He was known as "Deacon Ariel." 
Levi, born Jan. 13, 1773. 



Lavinia, 

Amos, 

Sin a, 

Ariel, 

Dorcas, 

Darius, 

Davis, 



Sept. 7, 1774. 

Oct. 10, 1776. 

Jan. 10, 1779; married Nathan Darling. 

Jan. 20, 1781; died Aug. 23, 1876. 

Jan. 24, 1783; married Daniel Whipple. 

April 7, 1785. 

May 21, 1788. 



1341 

1429 
*1430 
1431 
1432 
1433 
1434 
1435 
1436 
1437 
1438 
1439 
1440 
1441 



SILAS COOK married 
JOANNA DARLING. 

Reuben, born Dec. 27, 1776. 



Phila, 

Phebe, 

James, 

Silas, 

Joanna, 

Olney, 

Ziba, 

Miranda, 

Michael, 

Michael, 

Olney, 



Sept. 24, 1778. 

July 16, 1780. 

May 27, 1782. 

Feb. 22, 1784. 

Feb. 7, 1786. 

June 29, 1788. 

Feb. 22, 1791. 

April 9, 1793. 

May 29, 1796; died young. 

Nov. 23, 1798. 

Oct. 9, 1801. 



1342 PHEBE COOK married 

1442 JOSEPH THAYER, of Mendon. 

1443 Reuben. 

1444 Joseph. 

1445 Asenath. 

1446 Welcome. 

1447 Otis. 

1448 Phebe. 



1343 ELIZABETH COOK married 
1449 BENJAMIN THAYER. 

They lived on the road from the Five Corners to 



14.50 Lucina. 

1451 Laurania. 

1452 Asenath. 



Woonsocket. 



1344 JUDITH COOK married 

1453 NICHOLAS THAYER. 

1454 Laurania. 



HISTOItY OF WOONSOCKET. 281 

1455 Ariel. 
1450 Nicholas, 

1457 Abijijail, 

1458 Judith. 
1450 Dianna. 
1460 Phebe. 

1345 ANANIAS COOK married 

1401 SALLY BUTLER. 

1402 Dianna, born June 5, 1785. 

1403 Laurania, . . Feb. 24, 1787. 

1404 Lucina, . . Dec. 17, 1788. 

1405 Libbeus, . . Jan. 9, 1791. 

1391 ABNER THOMPSON married 
1400 MARY WHIPPLE, 

1407 Whipple. 

1408 Allen. 
140!) a^evi, 

1470 nVillard. 

1471 William, 

1472 Lucina. 

1473 Mary. 

1393 OLNEY THOMPSON married 
HYRENA PAINE. (See ante No. 500.) 

They lived near Slatersville until 1810, when they 
removed to Pittsfield, N. II. Their children are 
enumerated in the Arnold gen.. No. 509. There 
were nine children. The four last tliffer slightly 
from those enumerated. According to this account 
they were Phebe, Lyman, Mary, AV^illiam. 

1394 HANNAH THOMPSON married 

1474 NATHAN VERRY. 

1475 Foster, born Oct. 22, 1780. 
1470 Sally, . . Aug. 24, 1701. 

Julv4, 1703. 



1477 Nancy, 

1478 Abigail, 
1470 Hannah, 

*14S0 Nathan, 
14.S1 Samuel, 

1482 James, 

1483 Mary Ann, 



July 7, 1700, 
Oct. 1, 1708. 
May 24, 1801. 
June 20, 1804. 
June 15, 1807. 
Dec. 27, 1800. 



1396 ARIEL COOK married 

14^ CRUSA COOK. 

1485 Willard. 
1480 Olney. 

1487 Hirain. 

1488 Uranah, 
1480 Eliza. 



232 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



1490 Hannah. 
1401 Ariel. 

1492 SallJ^ 

1493 Stephen. 

1494 Otis. 

1495 Clarl%;e. 

SEVENTH GENERATION. 

1419 NATHAK COOK married 

1496 LUCY BALLOU. 

1497 Lucy, horn Oct. 4, 1S04. 

1498 Harry Ballon, . . April 12, 1S09. 

1499 Amev Whipple, . . March 6, 1811. 

1500 Noratus Ross, . . Jan, 21, 1813. 

1501 Caroline Washington, . . Feb. 10, 1815. 

1502 Philander Perrv, . . Nov. 15, ISIO. 

1503 Savannah Arnold, . . May 21, 1825. 

1504 William ]S'ahum, . . May 30, 1827. 



1421 LEVI COOK married 
1505 EHODA DARLING 
15()() Perley, bor 

1507 Alpha, 

1508 Sallv, 

1509 Wlliis, 

1510 Lyman A., 

1511 James Madison, 



•n Aua:. 5, 1798. 
April 24, 1800. 

Oct. 23, 1801. (See History.) 
Sept. 5, 1803. 
Dee. 15, 1805. 
Feb. 10, 1809. 



1422 LAVINIA COOK married 
1512 JAMES COLE. 

1.513 Lydia. 

1514 Ariel. 

1515 Dorcas. 

1516 Joseph. 

1517 Olive. 

1518 James. 

1519 Levi. 

1520 Lewis. 

1423 AMOS COOK married 

1521 OLIVE DARLIXCx. 

1522 Elizabeth. 

1523 Arnold. 

1524 Amos. 

1525 Davis. 

1526 Eliza, married O. D. Ballon. 

1527 Sally, . . Nathaniel Short. 

1528 Barton. 

1529 Levi. 

1530 Olney M. 

1531 Olive. 

1532 Edmund L. 

1533 Albertus. 



HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 233 



1425 AllIEJj (X)OIv niarriecl 
1.53-t ELIZA G. SABIN?. 

1500 George, ))oru Aug. IS, ISIO. 
1530 Albeit, . . Apiil 13, 1812. 

1537 John fSabins, . . Dec. 28, 1814. 

1538 Eilmond L., .. reb.f29, 1810. 

1539 Charles, . . Fel), 19, 1817. 

1540 Ann Eliza, . . Jan. 23, 1820. 

1541 Horace, . . Nov. 16, 1821. 

1542 Ariel Lindsev, . . Dec. 11, 1823. 

1543 Kebecca Thomas, . . IvTov. 27, 1820. 

1544 Maria, . . Jan. 8, 1829. 

1545 Ellen Frances, . . May 2, 1832. 
1540 Joshua Sabins, . . June G, 1835. 

1428 DAVIS COOK married 

1547 ABIGAIL BALLOU. 

1548 Almira, married Lyman Cook, Xo. 1,557. 

1549 Lucina. 

1550 Dorcas. 

1551 Abigail. 

1552 Cyrus. 

1553 Sarah. 

1554 Davis. 

1430 REUBEN COOK married 

1555 MAETIIA WHIPPLE. 

155(5 Elias, ])orn Aug. 24, 1802. 

1557 Lyman, .. March 17, 1804; died Julv 15, lS7r 

1558 Eimira, . . April 25, 1805. 

1559 Diadama. 
15G0 Mary. 

1501 Alpha. 

1502 R. OInej', born June 18, 1822. 

1480 NATHAN VERRY married 

1503 NANCY BALLOU, Jan. 23, 1823. 

1504 Nathan T., born June 27, 1824. 

1505 George F., . . July 14, 182(i. 



THE HARRIS FAMILY. 
Students of Rhode Island history— I refer to the history of Rhode 
Island which has thus far existed only in manuscripts and tradition- 
have lieard mucli of William Harris, the companion of Roger Wil- 
liams in his perilous voyage across the Seekonk river. Tiie historians 
of ]{hode Island, whose works have gone to the printer, out of re- 
s'poct to the memory of the "great apostle of soul lil)erty," etc., say 
but little of him, and what they do sav is not complimentary. As I 
30 



234 ITTSTOr.Y OF WOOXSOCKET. 

desire my worl^ to 1)u "i)()])u];ir," like uiy predecessors, I shall say but 
little of liiiii; indeed, I will simply direct tlie attention of my readers 
to a genealogical account of his brother. 

FIRST GENERATION. 

1566 THOMAS IIATIRIS. 

He came to Providence about the year 1G3S. He 
died in IGSfi. Among his children was 
*15G7 Thomas Harris. He died Feb. 27, 1710-11. 

SECOND GENEItATION. 

15G7 THOMAS HAERIS. 

Among his children ^vere: 
*15GS Thomas, born Aug. 10, 1G65; died Sept. 1, 1741. 
*15G9 lUchard, . . Nov. 14, 1GG8; . . 1750. 
*1570 Nicliolas, . . April 5, 1G71. 
1571 William, . . June 11, KH:]. 
*1572 Henrv, . . Xov. 10, 1G75. 
*157:l Eleth'an. 

1574 Joab, born Jan. 11, 1681. 

1575 ximity, . . Dec. 10, 1677. 
"1576 Mary. 

THIRD GENERATION. 

1563 THOMAS HAEEIS married 
1577 PHEBE EKOWX. 
*1578 Wait, born April 21, 1G9G. 

1579 Pliebe, . . Dec. 1(5, 1698. 

1580 John, . . Sept. 17, 1700. 
*1581 Henry, . . Oct. 5, 1702. 
■■'^1582 Thos., . . Oct. 21, 1704. 
*1583 Chas., .. 1709. 

*15S4 Gideon, . . March 16, 1714. 
1585 Lydia, . . June 9, 1715. 

1509 PJCITARD IIAEEIS. 

Among his children were •. 
*1586 Richard. 

1587 Jonathan, married Anne Mowry. 

1588 Amaziah. 

*1589 David, born 1714; died 1797. 

1590 Preserved, married i^Iartha Mowry. 

1591 Elethan, . . Joseph Guile. 

1570 XICIIOLAS HAEEIS. 

Among his children were: 

1592 Thomas, married, second, Sarah Collins. 
159P. Nicholas. 

1594 Jedediah. 

1595 Ch.ristopher, married Anna Harris. 

1596 Zuiviah. 

1507 Sarah, married Israel Carpenter. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. zdO 

1572 HENRY HARRIS. 

Among his children were : 
*15ns Henry, died Au^-.G, 174(). 
159!) Thomas. 
1(500 Lydia, married William Tillinghast. 

1573 ELETHAIN" HARRIS married 

1001 n"atha:n' BROW]sr. 

1()02 William. 
1()0;5 Sarali, 

1004 Elethan. 

1576 MARY HARRIS married 

1005 GABRIEL BERNOK 

He was a Huguenot refugee— a noted man in Ins 
native and his' adopted country. 
*1G0G Susanna. 

1007 ILary, married Gideon Crawford, 

1008 Eve." 

rOUKTII GEl^ERATION. 

1578 WAITE HARRIS married 

1009 .JOSEPH FEN'N'ER. 

1010 Hetty. 

1011 Thomas. 

1012 Phebe, married Benjamin Slack. 

1013 Waite, . . Benjamin Sprague. 

1014 Joseph. 

1015 Asahel, married Rohy Sprague. 

1581 IIEXRY HARRIS married 
1010 TABITHA WESTCOTT. 

1(517 Phf^he, born May 29, 1728; married Artliur Fenner. 

1018 John, ., May 8, 17:11. 

1019 Josias, .. Sept. o, 17:57; married Sarah' Congdon. 
1(520 5 Caleb, .. Aug. 9, 17:39; . Margaret Westcott. 

1021 / .. " " Ben.iamin Slaclv. 

1022 Hannah, . . Nov. 25, 1744; . . John Colwell. 

1582 THOMAS HARRIS married 

1023 ABIGAIL SMITH. 

1024 Lydia, married William Albertson. 

1025 Phebe, . . Edward Smith. 
1(520 Joseph. 

1(527 Abigail, married Jolni Holden. 

15S.3 (^HARLES HARRIS married 
1('>28 MARY HOPKINS. 

1020 Henry, married Roby Smith. 

10:50 Amy, "^ .. William Browning. 

lOl^l Gideon. 



236 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

1632 Nancy. 

1683 Steplien, married Lydia Beverly. 

1634 Josep]]. 

1635 Oliver. 

1636 Mercy, married Caleb Fenner. 

1637 George, . . ISTancy Bowen. 

1584 GIDEOX HAKRIS married 
16.38 WESTCOTT. 

1639 Waite. 

1640 Talnthy, married Andrew Angell. 

1641 Huldah, . . Richard Mowrv, great grandson of Joseph, 

No. 1,158. 

1642 Thomas, married Rreelove Arnold. 

1643 Asahel, . . Naomi Winsor. 

1644 John, . . Nancy Arnold. 

1645 Charles, . . Mary Fenner. 

1586 RICHARD HARRIS married, first, 

1646 MARTHA FOSTER. 

He married, second, 

1647 MARY COLWELL. 

1648 Richard, married Mary Thomas. 

1649 Jeremiah, . . Abigail Smith. 

1650 Anthony. 

1651 David, married Abigail Farnnm. 

1652 Jabez, . . Martha Arnold. 

1653 Abner, . . Amy Cohvell. 

1589 DAVID HARRIS married, first, 

1654 MARY JENCKES. 

He married, second, 

1655 MARTHA JENCKES. 

She was granddanghter of Gov. Joseph Jenckes. 
She died at Stamford, N. Y., in 1825, aged 101 years, 

1656 Inland. 

1657 David, died young. 
*1658 Sarah, boni 1750. 

■■'=1659 Joseph, . . 1752; died Feb. 25, 1823. 

1660 George, . . 1706. 

1661 Amey, . . Jan. 9, 1756; married Caleb Greene. 

1662 Martha, . . 1758. 

*1663 Stephen, . . Dec. 28, 1753. 

1598 HENRY HARRIS married 

1664 HOPE HOPKINS. 

1665 Lydia, married Jos. Tillinghast. 

1666 Ruth. 

1(567 Sarah, married John Hopkins. 

1668 Hope, . . William Wall. 

1669 Susan, . , Jol) Cooke. 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 2ii7 



1606 SUSANNA BERNON maiTied 
1G70 JOSEPH CRAWFOKD. 

1(171 Sarah, married Silas Cooko. 
1()72 Freelove, . . John Jonckes. 
1()7:'. Mary, .. Dr. Amos Troo]). 
1074 ( Caiulas, . . Zacliariah Allen. 
1()75 (Nancv, .. " " 

1670 Lydia, . . Philip Allen. 

FIFTH GENERATIOX. 

1658 SARAH HARRIS married 

1077 EPHRAIM OTIS. 

1078 iMary, married Samuel Foster. 

1079 Ephraim, died young. 

1080 I^i^hraim. 

1081 Harris, married Lydia Rogers. 

1082 Amey. 

1083 Daniel. 

1084 Jol), married Del3orah Harris, 

1085 Steplien. 
1080 Daniel. 

1087 George, married Lucinda Smith. 

1659 JOSEPH HARRIS married 

1088 HEPSABETH BUNKER. 

They lived at Lime Rock, R. 
*1080 David, born 1780. 



1000 William, . . 


. 1781; 


died 1783. 


1091 Hannah, . , 


. 1783; 


. . 1783. 


1092 Sarali, 


. 1784; 


. . 1784. 


=109:] William, . . 


. 1785. 




1094 Joseph, . . 


. 1787; 


died 1788. 


1095 Daniel. 


, 178!>; 


. . 1790. 


1090 Hannah, . . 


. 179i; 


. . 1701. 


=1097 Samuel B . 


. 1793. 




1098 Daniel G. . 


. 1795. 





1663 STEPHEN HARRIS married, first, 
1099 HANNAH MAWNEY. 

1700 John M., horn July 15, 1775; died Nov. 2, 177(5. 

1701 Henrj% .. May 23, 1777; .. Aug. 8, 1778. 

1702 Stephen M., . . Aug. 25, 1780; . . Feb. 21, 1823. 

He married, second, 

1703 ABIGAIL CUSHING. 

1704 Abhv, died young. 

*1705 Sarah O., born Jan. 30, 1795. 
1700 Benjamin C, .. Jan. 21, 1797. 

1707 Edwin K., . . Oct. 21, 1798. 

1708 Abbv, . . Aug. 3, 1800. 

1709 (Jeorge I., . . July 10, 1805. 

1710 Charles F., . . Dec. 13, 1809. 



238 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

SIXTH GENEKATIOK. 

1689 DAVID HARRIS married 

1711 LYDIA STREETER. 

Amono: their children Avas 

1712 Edward Harris. (See History.) 

1693 WILLIAM HARRIS married, first, 

1713 SARAH GREEXE. 

He married, second, 

1714 SARAH WILKIXSOK (See History.) 

1697 SAMUEL B. HARRIS married, first, 

1715 MARY TILLINGHAST. 

He married, second, lier twin sister, 
1710 PATIEXCE TILLIXGHAST. (See History.) 

1705 SARAH O. HARRIS married 

1717 SAMUEL GREEl'^E, agent of Rernon for many years, (See 
History.) 



.=v,«^, 



Index to Genealogy. 



Adliiigton, Ansustns 1112 

Albertson, Williaiii I(i24 

Aklricl), Aaron 021 

Abl)y 070 

Al)l)y Jane lOtu 

Aimer 1191 

Alice 022 

Al])ua (Hi) 

" 081 

" otss 

Alplieiis Oil.') 

Alvah ()20 

Amy 400 

Anna 472 

" 58:5 

" 02(i 

" 105:', 

Anthony 4('.o 

Arena (i2:; 

Arniin;i 0i,'7 

Arnold 275 

" ()2() 

" GS2 

'• 084 

" 100(5 

• A.sa 40-1 

Aujiustus 270 

024 

" jI 1007 

Avi.s.: io.";i; 

Azaiel ()2.") 

]>cn.ianiin ooc. 

" F oo;; 

Caleb, Juds^e 20;) 

Oi7 



Aklr 



Caroline Eliza 10;U 

C'atharine 5i)4 

Celia lOO:) 

Chas. E 10()-2 

(Collin 051 

Cynthia 008 

Cyrus 002 

" 1010 

David 010 

" (ii'c' 

Dennis 020 

Desiah Carpenter. . 081 
Dexter 901 

" 004 

Dianna 591 

027 

Dntee Ballon 078 

Edwin G5{') 

" K 092 

Eli.sha 400 

" 041 

Eliza 987 

Elizabeth 057 

1048 

..10.50 

Elsie 027 

" 1002 

Eunice 1180 

lOzekiel ()42 

Fred ...1050 

Freelove Hale C'^o 

George 582 

" ' 028 

ilannah .i78_ 

207 

007 

llavriet '.is.; 



22(3 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Aldr 



icli, Henry Clay 10 W 

Hiram cry.) 

Horatio Nelson — (577 

Isabella 481 

Israel 342 

James 159 

" 660 

•' 68.") 

" 827 

Joanna 590 

921 

Joel 269 

" 596 

John 014 

" 058 

" 998 

Joseph 055 

" 1055 

" 1058 

Julia i 630 

Laura Larned 679 

'• 1063 

Leenian 1081 

Lewis 617 

Louisa 1060 

Lucius 1004 

Lucy Oil 

" 923 

" 984 

Luke, "Uncle" 531 

" 613 

Lydia 274 

■" 595 

Maria 618 

" 628 

Mark 612 

Marshall 1082 

Martin 1000 

Mary 271 

" 465 

" 585 

" 646 

" 918 

" 969 

" 999 

Mercy 4(il 

983 

1006 

Mercy, Maria 991 

Moab 467 

Moses. 273 

684 

995 

" 1083 

" Arnold 10.57 

Naaman 268 

Oliver 644 



Aldrich, Otis 643 

" 683 

Paris 652 

Patience 577 

Peleg 615 

Peter 1225 

Philadelphia 584 

6.53 

Ptachel 588 

llobert 6.54 

Kuth 106 

" 622 

" Eliza 645 

Sally 587 

Sarah 1001 

" 1009 

"A 994 

Seth 69 

" T 990 

Simson 460 

Simon 963 

Sophia 929 

Stephen 581 

649 

650 

920 

" Arnold 985 

Susan .586 

" 10.52 

" Emeline 1033 

Susanna 264 

Thomas 265 

589 

" 919 

Waito... ".'.*.'.'.".'." .".'.'." 462 

Warner 917 

Welcome 592 

Wellinsfton 925 

Whipple 1005 

William 206 

593 

" Duana 1008 

" Herbert 1065 

" J 924 

" L 676 

Allen, Elizabeth 1080 

Ezra 767 

" 770 

Keziah 1290 

Lydia 697 

768 

Philip 1676 

Tamer 769 

Walter 696 

Zachariah .541 

1675 

Andrews, Louis 1065 



MISTOllY OF WOONSOCKKT. 



241 



Andrews, ^Villi;llu II '.HM 

Aiii;oll, j\ii(Ii('\v Kl-iO 

I-]iU(ir .">(;:* 

E/.ckiel :.(;i 

Xatliau (iL'T 

Sarah ].") 

Zeruiali 117:; 

Ap]>lol)y, Scth 814 

^Vniolil, Aaron loS 

" 27(; 

" Clarke 10i)S 

Al)it^-ail 58 

" isa 

" 185 

420 

7(H) 

Al)ra]iaiii 228 



Abraiu 752 

Ace f)5 

Adaline F 1150 

Aliab ;;48 

Ahimau nil 

Alee 1^41 

AkIricIi 475 

Alfred 404 

445 

700 

Alice A 1117 

Almira 1221 

Alpha 821 

748 

Alsie 074 

Alviii 75:1 

" 1092 

Amasa 1080 

" 8 1151 

Aniev 207 



442 

Amos 444 

84i) 

.\iiii 424 

" 80(i 

Anna . 55 

" 144 

" ..177 

" 482 

Anne 788 

" 1005 

Anson 405 

Antliony .50 

" ■ 102 

Arl)a 455 

Artliur ;>5l 

Asa 200 



Arnold, Asa 780 

Aut;usliis 825 

Hathshcba 027 

808 

I5em'(lict 2 

107 

ICO 

lienjamin 441 

821 

Calel) 120 

" 4.50 

Catharine 90 

Charles 8.04 

Clarissa 440 

1122 

Cordelia 900 

Cyrus 029 

'" 7.54 

Daniel 52 

" 157 

405 

•■• 419 

[' 457 

7.55 

802 

812 

David 155 



400 

" 417 

Dorcas 170 

412 

" 401 

702 

Dianna 020 

744 

nnnd 41 

azer 10 



Edi 
FAo. 



nor. 

jail. 



Elislia. 



i/.a 



418 
25 
173 
022 
747 
101 
102 
415 
458 
782 
4!;8 



' Harriet 511 

i/.ahetli 11 

(i4 

402 

408 

489 

.". 784 



242 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Aniold, Elizal)et]i 807 An 

C 1115 

Emily 15 1119 

S 11.-):^ 

Emory Cook lOOU 

Enoch 172 

Ephvaim 479 

Esther 84(> 

Ezekiel ;]7o 

Fatima 4:J9 

Franklin 850 

Freelove 1(142 

Freeman 1090 

George 189 

491 

832 

" Benedict 099 

Gideon 139 

141 

Iladwin 487 

Hannah 101 

135 

138 

152 

182 

184 

304 

393 

Hanson 811 

Helen M 1118 

Henry 303 

Hnldah 238 

Ichabod 12 

nsaac 230 

Ishmael 113 

Israel 51 

" ..101 

" 474 

" 781 

Jacob 124 

" 353 

James 191 

" 493 

" 502 

" 1125 

Jane 108 

Jeremiah 24 

Jesse 347 

" 390 

Joanna 5 

295 

324 

Job 60 

" 229 

Joel ." 787 

John 9 

" 17 



lold, Jolin 22 

•' 50 

" 90 

" 134 

" 404 

" 804 

Jonathan (51 

lis 

231 



" E 110(5 

Joseph 21 

45 

40!5 

443 

454 

" Augustus 1108 

" P.:. .823 

Josias 44 

Julia 478 

" Ann 745 

" 1101 

Lavinia 1103 

Learned Scott 1144 

Lemuel Hastings . . . 335 

Leonard 840 

Levi 179 

" ISO 

J^ewis 483 

" B 1110 

Louisa M Iii2 

Lucien J Iii4 

Lucina 785 

" 804 

J^ucy 105 

" 701 

" 845 

Luke 230 

" 49(5 

" 803 

Lydia 98 

'• 302 

" 355 

" 704 

" 789 

829 

" 837 

1094 

112(5 

Mahala 484 

Marcella 1149 

" S 1153 

Marcus 809 

Margaret 392 

490 

Maria 492 

09S 

" 800 



A 



TIISTOItY OF WOONSOCKET. 



24.- 



Arnold, Mavtlia 102 Arnold. 



Mary . 



l:Vi 
. 1()(5 
. 410 
. 421 
ACM 
. 11) 
. ti() 
. 40 

. m 

. m 

. 107 

■ ^ii 

. o7") 



407 
4-2'.) 
4o3 
470 
501 



" 538 

" S2(i 

" 8:50 

" 1090 

" 1145 

" E 1110 

" J 112:', 

" Smith 70o 

Mercy -"^O 

" " 1-Jl 

Kis 

" 325 

Mica jail Collins — 1100 

Moses 154 

Xancy 847 

" ■ 1044 

Xaonii 100 

" 110 

Nathan 180 

450 

844 

Nathaniel 239 

Xoali 15() 

" 423 

Olive 488 

Oliver Kil 



Olnev 1091 

" "J 1148 

'• " 1154 

ratience io4 

127 

477 

810 

828 

1124 

Tele- 99 



rhebe 27 

123 

190 

240 

349 

486 

750 

Philadelphia 128 

Philip 114 

Polly 298 

" 839 

Priscilla 171 

Provided 413 

Kachel 175 

328 

Renben, Allen 1102 

Richard 7 

10 

40 

109 

299 

301 

" James 540 

Roby 305 

" 340 

" 830 

Ruf us 371 

Rntli 107 

" 300 

" ;]2;) 

" 783 

Sally 297 

Samuel Ill 

457 

" Greene ... 530 

907 

Sarah 05 

103 

130 

408 

425 

494 

" 700 

1140 

" A 1113 

Savannah 842 

Seth 54 

" 181 

" '... 187 

" 300 

" 848 

Silas 3.50 

Smith 822 

Soi)hia 109:5 

Stephen 

no 

120 



2U 



HISTORY OF WOONSOOKKT. 



Arnold, ,Sie]>lien 220 

2li() 

4in 

74!) 

Susan Hall 1107 

Susanna • -. 13 

-"m 

Ill 

140 

:][ri 

411 

Thomas 4 

S 

IS 

3!) 

" ()3 

" !)2 

234 

301 

497 

" Jenckes 74(i 

IJriali 170 

AVaite 43.-. 

" 473 

827 

Welcome 232 

..841 

Whipple 1088 

1143 

William l 

40 

11.-) 

125 

351 

380 

430 

824 

" B 705 

Willis.. 480 

Woodward 43 

Arnzen, Niles — ■■ lOfJO 

]5aeon, lluth II 1100 

Balcolm, Martha 83 

Ballon, Abhy 1038 

Abip;ail 1.547 

^Vlniira 955 

Alpha 1037 

Jjathsheba 109 

Celia Ann 1030 

Daniel 9.58 

David 1030 

Duteo 0.53 

" 9.57 

Fenner 03i) 

(Teov2;e 513 

""C 1035 

llannaii 0.5(i 



Ballon, Jemima 3.54 

791 

.levnsha 1382 

Louisa J 1191 

lau-v 149(J 

Lvdia 9.50 

Martha 1334 

Mercy 1200 

]Srancy 1563 

Xathan 845 

Otis Dexter 1.520 

Peter 1037 

Philena 1400 

Ilensalier 954 

Samuel Willard OGO 

Susanna 344 

Bartlett, Abby 525 

Aimer 221 

" 51(i 

Alpha 514 

•' 519 

Anna 222 

•' 513 

Benedict 535 

Caleb 225 

Caroline 710 

Daniel 105 

Delia 717 

Elisha 2E4 

" 715 

" 003 

Esther .528 

(icorge .524 

721 

James 534 

Joanna .529 

John 1142 

" E 880 

Luev 531 

Mary .521 

Minerva 905 

Nathan 517 

Oliver .522 

" 720 

Otis 523 

Patience 520 

Philadelphia 515 

537 

904 

Polly 532 

Rebecca 718 

llufus 223 

" 533 

lluth 530 

" 719 

Sarah 723 

Smith 518 



iiiSTOiiv OK wuon.souki<:t. 



24/ 



JJarllett, Slo])li('ii 530 

AVilliiun 527 

'. 885 

" O T22 

llassett, Alice 1011 

Uatcman, Sidney 1070 

IJer-^en, Kev. Cliarles 810 

Bernoii, Eve 1G08 

Gabriel 1G05 

]\IaTy 1G07 

Susanna 100(5 

]5eveiiej', Lydia lO:);; 

JJorden, Natliauiel Ji 708 

]>()wen, Nancy 10:57 

JJoyden, Lorihtj'. 1115 

]}rayton, Thomas 010 

lirown, Aup-ustus 988 

Elethan 1()04 

.■Nathan 1001 

Phebe 1577 

Sarah lOO:'. 

Walter ()9S 

William 1002 

IJrownell, Dexter L 978 

Hannah 972 

Isaac 974 

Lucy Maria 977 

Mary W 979 

Samuel 97(5 

Stephen 975 

*' F 971 

Susan 97o 

r>ro\vninL;', William 10;'>0 

IJryant. Xoah A 1190 

Ijuftum, Ann A^ernon 7;50 

Arnold 289 

Darius D 284 

David 28;) 

Edward 714 

Elizabotli 709 

Hannah 288 

Joseph 282 

Lucy 280 

" 710 

Lvdia 291 

'" 712 

Mary T^ee 731 

Patience 285 

Piel)ecca 711 

Sarah 70S 

Thomas 287 

800 

Waite 290- 

AVilliani 281 

" 292 

'.'. " Arnold .... 71:5 
15(ill, Isaac lioi 



Pull, Mary 1100 

Jiunker, ireiJsabeth Iii88 

Jiurj>'ess, Tristam 588 

Purrill, James 334 

Pushee, James 923 

Pussej^ Welcome 1095 

Putler, Sally 1401 

Capron, Asa 308 

Petsey 312 

Elisha 319 

Esther Emeline — 739 

. . Fanny 320 

James 73') 

Joseph 307 

314 

" Panlield 741 

Lucy ;5io 

" "Farnum 740 

Lydia Gushing 737 

Margaret 130 

JNIary 780 

" Warren 733 

Nabby 310 

iSTathan Arnold 734 

Xancy Darling 738 

Otis 313 

Patty 317 

Kuth 309 

Sabra 318 

Sarah Arnold 740 

Sylvia 311 

Thomas 315 

Gargill, Daniel 451 

David 449 

George 452 

James 440 

448 

John 450 

Lucy 450 

Marv 188 

Phoda 447 

Garpenter, ]>enjamin 247 

Elizabeth 978 

Israel 1597 

Seba 703 

Garroll, Sarah Ann 048 

Gartlin, Leonard 1198 

Ghace, Antliony (>89 

Garoline 10(>8 

1070 

.. • Earle 1007 

Eliza Porden 10()9 

:^rarv Arnold 1071 

Samuel P 709 

Wal(h) Earl(^ 1072 

Glarke, ,los. S 991 

(!oe, Anna 1191 



246 



HISTORY OF AVOONSOgJvET. 



Coe, Emor .1102 

.. Epliraim 1190 

.. Jolm 1195 

.. Juliette 1198 

.. Martin 1197 

. Eebecca 1193 

.. Sai-ahP 119() 

.. William E 1199 

Cole, Ariel 1514 

Dorcas 1515 

.. HusliE ,1121 

Janies 1512 

" 1518 

Joseph 151(5 

.. Levi 1519 

Lewis 1520 

.. Lydia 1510 

.. Oiive 1517 

Colwell, Aniey 1053 

John 1622 

Mary 1647 

Comstock, Adam 249 

Alpha 246 

Amey 248 

Andrew 81 

Anna 84 

Anthony 80 

261 

Caleb 258 

Catharine 77 

Cyrus 469 

David 32 

" 67 

Deborali 243 

Elizalieth 33 

Ezekiel 85 

262 

Ereelove 247 

George 242 

280 

Gideon 75 

Henry 440 

Hezediali 30 

78 

Ichabod 35 

Jeremiah 37 

123 

Jerusha 245 

Job 36 

Jolui 34 

" : 82 

Joseph SO 

Lucina 470 

Martlia 88 

Nathan 468 

Penelope 79 

Phebe SO 



Cook 

or [■ 
Cooke, ) 



Comstock, Eachel 76 

Eowena 279 

Pufus 87 

Samuel 28 

29 

244 

Sarah 68 

" 471 

Stephen 259 

Susan 73 

Susanna 260 

278 

Thomas 31 

William 74 

Congdon, Jonathan 784 

Sarah 1691 

Abigail 1246 

1271 

1284 

1293 

1366 

1551 

1754 

Albert 1536 

Albertus 1533 

Almira 1548 

1558 

Alpha 1507 

" 1561 

Amasa 1414 

Amey 1416 

" 'Whipple 1499 

Amos ...1256 

" 1423 

" 1524 

Ananias 1345 

Ann 1242 

" Eliza 1540 

Ariel 1339 

" 1396 

" 1425 

" 1491 

" Lindsey 1542 

Arnold 1523 

Arthur ..1296 

1408 

" Fenner 1405 

Aurilla 1404 

Barton 1409 

1528 

Benjamin 1251 

Caleb 1282 

Calvin 1380 

Caroline AVash' ton.. 1501 

Catharine 1235 

13(;2 

Charles 1539 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



241 



Cook. Chivkc Mil.") Cook, 

Coinfort Tlioiiii)soii. .1407 

Ci-usa MS4 

Cyrus I."):* 

Daniel 1244 

" 12S0 

" V.]:>{) 

Darius 1427 

David 1245 

" i;us 

Davis 142S 



" 1.J54 

Diadama 1 •">•')'.) 

Dianna 14('.2 

Dorcas 12(>1 

1420 

I'M 

Ebenezer 1218 

1227 

1254 

Edmund L ir):!2 

•• 15:!S 

Elias i;];!S 

'* ir)5() 

" 1750 

Elijah 1250 

Elisha 1252 

Eliza 1401 

" 148'.) 

" 1.520 

Elizabetli 1225 

12s;! 

i:;4:i 

1:551 

P!74 

1522 

Ellen Frances 1545 

Esek 12U7 

" 1412 

Esther ]:;s!) 

Eunace 1;}S7 

Experience 1220 

12.57 

Ezekiel 1287 

l:;84 

Freelove LSO'.t 

George i:]07 

1.5:'.5 

llannali 122<) 

12()7 

127;! 

12!)1 

i:;'.i8 

141)0 

Harry Jiallou 14!)8 

Hiram 1487 



llorncc. . 
iluldali. 
Iclialiod. 



Israel 

Janierson. 
James — 



" Madison. 
Jemima 



Jeremiah. 
Jerusha. . 



Joanna 



Joh... 
Jolm. 



" Sabins. 
Jonathan — 



Joseph 

Joshua Sabins. 

Josiah 

Judith 

Keziah 

J^abinea 

J^aurania 

J^avina 



Lebbeus 
Levi — 



Luc in a. . 
Lucretia. 



Lncv. 
Lydia. 



JiVnian . 
'" A. 
Margary 
jSIaria . . 
Martha.. 



iAIiirv. 



248 



niSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Cook, JMury 12G9 

" 15G0 

.. Mehituble 1272 

Mercy 1205 

Michael 1255 

1439 

1440 

Miranda 1438 

Nahiiin 1388 

1419 

Xaomi 1236 

" 1279 

J^athaniel 127S 

" 1335 

1418 

.. Nicholas 1220 

1224 

1239 

1285 

Xoah. 1247 

" 1300 

;. " 1406 

jSToratus Eoss 1500 

Olive 1299 

" 1368 

" 1531 

Olney 1436 

" 1441 

" 1486 

" M 1530 

;; Otis 1494 

Patience 97 

1370 

Pauline 1403 

Perley 1506 

Peter 1279 

Phebe 1342 

" 1352 

" 1432 

Phila 1431 

Philander Perry 1502 

Priscilla 1363 

;; Rachel 1264 

Rebecca 1543 

Reuben 1430 

R. Olney 1562 

Sally 1492 

"■ 1508 

" 1527 

Samuel 1222 

1230 

1258 

1358 

1399 

;; Sarah 1249 

" 1260 

" 1553 



Cook, Savannah Arnold 150;l 

.. Savil 1371 

.. Seth 1243 

" 1288 

" 1353 

.. Silas 1259 

" 1341 

" 1434 

" 1671 

Simon 1373 

.. Sina 1424 

.. Stephen 1303 

..1493 

.. Susanna 1286 

1292 

1359 

Svlvanus 1360 

. . Tallman 1410 

.. Urana 1488 

" 1385 

.. Uriah 1376 

. . Vienna 1402 

.. Walter 1217 

1219 

1231 

. . AVhipple 1415 

. . AVillard 1485 

.. William 1281 

1365 

1381 

Nalmm 1504 

.. AVillis 1509 

.. Ziba 1383 

" 1437 

Corbett, Margery 1262 

Crawford. Candas 1674 

Freelove 1672 

Gideon 1607 

Joseph 1670 

Lydia 1676 

Mary 1673 

Nancy 1675 

Sarah 1671 

Crutfj Mary 388 

Cushing, Abigail 1703 

Daniels, Dan 'A. 8.52 

Darius 167 

Eliza 943 

Samuel 942 

Smith 847 

Darling, Esther 843 

George 973 

Joanna 1429 

L. P 734 

Lucv 849 

Matilda 705 

Nancy 732 



HlSTOllY OF WOONSOCKET. 



249 



Darliiif;-, Niithan 142-1 

Olive 1521 

Klioda 1505 

Davis, Isabella 8:55 

])urfee, Abigail 7;;5 

Duticott, 3jarl)ary 8ol 

Eames, Anthony 547 

Millicen't 540 

nCaiio, Eliza 093 

Jonah 0i)4 

John Milton 087 

Lncv 0112 

Lydia 080 

Mary 1105 

Pliney 08() 

" 095 

Sarah 090 

Thomas 088 

William 091 

Eddy, xYmey 294 

David 151 

" 293 

Hannah 145 

James 00:5 

Mary 148 

Nathaniel 147 

lluth 149 

" 779 

Stephen 150 

Elsbree, Isaac 1122 

Eston, Jemima 212 

Farniim, John 14 

Abigail 1051 

Arthur 248 

" 1017 

Asahel 1015 

Caleb 10:50 

Fenner, Daniel 908 

Hetty 1010 

Joseph 1009 

1014 

Mary 1045 

Phelie 1012 

Thomas 1011 

Waite 1G13 

Fisk, Susanna 53 

Follett, James 109(5 

Foster, Martha 1040 

Samuel ..1078 

Freeman, Lydia 1087 

Fuller, Daniel 981 

Sarah W 1120 

Gaskill, Olive 1295 

Golf, Jose])h 1124 

(lould, liebccca 707 

(Jroene, Calel) 1001 

Samuel 1717 

^2 



Greene, Sarah 1713 

T. 11 900 

Guile, Jose])h 1591 

Hacker, AV^illiam 093 

Hadwin, Oharles 090 

Elizabeth 485 

Hall, Olive 1025 

.. Susan 1104 

Handy, Watty 500 

Harrington, George 1094 

Ilarri.s, Abby 1704 

" 1708 

Abigail 1027 

Abner 1053 

Amaziah 1588 

Amey 1030 

" 1001 

Amity 1575 

Anne 1595 

Anthony 1050 

Asahel .' 1043 

]jenjamin C 170G 

Caleb 1020 

Charles 1583 

1045 

F 1710 

Christopher 1595 

Daniel 1(595 

" G 1098 

David 1589 

" ...1051 

" 1057 

" ...1089 

Deborah 1084 

Edward 1712 

Edwin K 1707 

Elethan 1573 

1591 

George 1(5:37 

" 1(500 

'• 1 1709 

Gideon 1.584 

" 1031 

Hannah 1(522 

1(591 

1(590 

Henry 1,572 

1581 

1598 

..1029 

Hone 1(5(58 

Huldali l()41 

Jabez 1052 

Jedediah 1594 

Jeremiah 1049 

Joab i.-,74 

John i.")S() 



250 



HISTOEY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Harris, Jolui 1G18 

" 1044 

" M 1700 

" " 1701 

Jonathan 1587 

Joseph ..1626 

1634 

1659 

" 1694 

Josias 1619 

Lydia 1585 

" 1600 

" 1624 

" 1665 

Martha 1662 

Mary 1576 

Mercy 1636 

Nancy 1632 

Nicholas 1570 

1593 

Olive 1635 

Phebe 1579 

" 1017 

" 1625 

Preserved 1590 

Ptichard 1569 

1586 

1648 

Ruth 166(5 

Samuel B 1697 

Sarah 1597 

" 1658 

" 1667 

" 1692 

" O 1705 

Susan 1669 

Stephen 1633 

1663 

M 1702 

Tabitha 1640 

Thomas 1566 

1567 

1568 

1582 

1592 

1599 

1642 

Waite 1578 

" 1639 

William ..1571 

1690 

" 1693 

Zuiriah 1596 

Hastings, Cynthia 330 

Ilayward, Hannah 59 

142 

Iluldah 1248 



Holden, John 1627 

Holman, David 987 

Hopkins, Hope 1664 

John 1667 

Mary 1628 

Hotchkiss, Edward 947 

948 

Hunt, Henrietta 975 

Hussey, Mary 688 

Sarah 687 

Ide, Daniel 807 

.. Lucy 1004 

Inman, Ann 66 

Edward 1155 

Johanna 1155 

Jacobs, Adolphus 944 

David 946 

AVilliam 945 

Jeffyrs, Laphani 788 

Jenckes ^ Amelia 890 

or > Daniel 887 

Jenks, ) Dinah 743 

Georc^e 892 

Henry 888 

John 893 

" 1072 

Luke 826 

Martha 158 

1655 

Mary 889 

" 1654 

Rosina 1109 

Sarah 891 

Jillson, Abner 368 

.. Anna 1047 

.. Hannah 362 

Luke 365 

.. Nathan 364 

.. Nathaniel 360 

363 

.. Phillis 1375 

Rhoda 367 

.. Ruth 361 

.. Waite 366 

Johnson, B. ^V 1117 

Keene, Lvdia 1054 

Lanii-, Dolly 675 

Lapiiam, Elizabeth 1075 

Laura Ellen 1077 

Levi 1073 

" Arnold 1076 

Sarah 1074 

J^ees, James 922 

Lincoln, Henry 606 

Lovel, Nehemiah 710 

Low, Bennett 610 

Lyman, Daniel 337 



HISTORY OF AVOONSOCKET. 



251 



Lvman, Siilly :13() 

iJlim ) Alfred ;340 

or > Anna 342 

Mann, ) " 703 

Bertha 403 

Catliarine 1(>'> 

Elijali 387 

Elizabeth 79(5 

Josei)h 339 

Lucy 341 

" 75(5 

" 809 

Lvilia 7(5(5 

Mary 94 

Mercy 7(54 

809 

Oliver 338 

" 700 

Patience 1171 

Richard 38(5 

Sophia 343 

" 757 

Stephen 7()2 

William 758 

Metcalf.... 7(31 

Marsh, Charles 332 

Eliza 811 

George P 333 

]Martin, James F 739 

]\Ia\vneY, Hannah 1099 

May, Oliver W 1033 

McGregor, Margaret 249 

Mclntire, Dianna 017 

Ruth 120G 

Melavory, Amy 219 

John 218 

Mary 220 

]\retcalf, Lydia 759 

]^[iller, Tliomas 1123 

Mowry, Al)ner Ballon 1291 

Albert 501 

" 797 

Amey 579 

Ananias 11 (i7 

Angell 402 

Anne 574 

" 1587 

Arlon 1213 

Arnold 399 

" 508 

Atwell 1215 

Barnev 1189 

Benedict 1207 

I'eniamin 129 

Caleb 570 

" 1178 

Candice 397 



JNIowry, C. C 1003 

Content Ballon 1203 

Darius 398 

David 1175 

" .1185 

" B 794 

Deborah 1179 

Desire 795 

Dinah 801 

Dorcas 876 

Eleazer 1172 

1181 

Elisha 129 

569 

1163 

Elizabeth 794 

Elsie 572 

Emily 799 

Eenn'er 1209 

Gardiner 567 

George 795 

940 

Gideon 1176 

Hannah 800 

Henry 1157 

Hiram 796 

Israel 567 

" 571 

John 1156 

" 1158 

" Orde 1204 

Jonathan 1170 

1183 

Joseph 1158 

" 1165 

Lucv 596 

Eevi 1205 

Martha 938 

1590 

Marv 48 



" 939 

Xancy 1188 

Nathaniel 1155 

Orin Pratt 1212 

Patience ... 580 

Phel)e 369 

" 1186 

" Amey 1210 

Phila 1211 

Pliilip 1174 

Richard 394 

401 

1(541 

Robert 578 

" 937 

" 941 



2r)2 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



iMowry, Sally 515 

Simon 1208 

Si)encer 64(5 

Stafford 1214 

Ulysses 702 

.. . Uranah 39(! 

993 

Uriah 1102 

Waite 100 

" 570 

Wanton 035 

AVarren B 972 

Welcome 400 

793 

William 395 

A 1034 

Bainbritlge.1202 

Winsor 798 

Munvoe, Abel C 1193 

Murdoch, Cyrus G 994 

Mussey, Therdale 420 

ISTewell, Elizabeth 1182 

Nichols, Nancy 982 

Kuth 949 

Sally 980 

Otis, Amey 1082 

Daniel 1083 

" 1680 

Ephraim 1677 

1079 

1080 

George 1087 

Harris 1681 

Job 1084 

Mary 1078 

Stephen 1085 

Packer, Hannah 1168 

Pain ) Alii 214 

or } Abigail 208 

Paine, ) Addison 1019 

Albert 1012 

Alpha 635 

" 1028 

Alvah 606 

Anna 202 

" 801 

" Eliza 875 

Annie 203 

Arena 881 

Arnold 194 

510 

879 

Asenath 034 

1015 

Bela 217 

Benjamin 193 

199 



Paine, Benoni 211 

Caleb 511 

" c^gg 

'.'. Dan .'.'.*.".'.'.'.*.'.'...'.'... 507 

David 1016 

Dorcas 197 

" 882 

Elizabeth 204 

639 

1026 

Hamilton 862 

Hannah 631 

Horace 863 

Ilyrena 509 

664 

James 508 

" Arnold 670 

Jemima 215 

John 200 

" 207 

" 505 

" 671 

" J 637 

" " 1032 

Jonathan 213 

Joseph 210 

Judith 636 

" 673 

Juliet 1029 

Lewis 1017 

Lucina 504 

" 640 

" 1030 

J^ydia 608 

" E 1021 

Margery 209 

Mary 205 

" 638 

" 672 

" 878 

" 1013 

" 1031 

Milley 880 

Nathan 198 

Newton 674 

Obed 216 

Olney Whipple 667 

Patience 665 

Phebe 1184 

Priscilla 190 

Prusha 506 

632 

Sally 669 

Sarah 206 

" 1027 

Senter 877 

Stephen 1014 



IHSTOIiY OF WOONSOCKET. 



253 



Paine, Susanna m:^, 

Thomas A 874 

Tyler (;;]:j 

" 1020 

William lOlS 

Parkhurst, Pliebe (i 

Passmore, Comstock 805 

Elizabeth 900 

Geoi-fje 896 

Joanna 898 

John 899 

Otis 901 

William ,S97 

Peck, Elizabeth 4;](3 

Pennock, Abraham 10()4 . 

Perkins, Susan ;j;)l 

Phetteplace, Simon 799 

Philbrick, ISTorris 1078 

Mary Dolly 1070 

Phillip, Amey ." 117 

Pitts, Joseph 80S 

Pray, Catharine 71 

John 72 

Ray, Francis B 1044 

.. James P 1043 

. . Joseph 1040 

G 1046 

Lucius 1042 

Marion 1045 

• • Mary 1041 

Payner, Ellen. 992 

Head, Clement 712 

Dinah 74;} 

Hannah 10(51 

Patience 805 

Pliodes, Zachary 5 

Roberts, Moses P 737 

Robinson, Charles 1038 

Rockwood, Joanna 1237 

Russell, George 1126 

Nancy 884 

Sabins, Eliza G 1534 

Sayles, Esek 381 

Esther 385 

Hannah 384 

Ishmael 382 

John 376 

377 

Lavina 902 

Marcella 1147 

Martha 380 

Rhoda 379 

Thomas 3S3 

Zili)ha 3,78 

Sheldon, Ann 72s) 

Susan 113(5 

Short, Nathaniel 1527 



Shove, Hannah 726 

Josiah 728 

■Mary (jfji 

Nancy 727 

Samn'el 724 

William 13 725 

Simmons, Marion 713 

Seth 505 

Slack, Benjamin I612 

^ •• " 1621 

Slocumb, Edgar M 1079 

Smith, Abigail 1623 

1640 

Amey 235 

JJenedict 702 

Clara P 1127 

Edward I(j25 

Elizabeth 1305 

Hannah 996 

^ " 1187 

Lucmda 1687 

Margaret 512 

Mercy 916 

ReuelP 1063 

.. Roby 1629 

Soutlnvick, Cath. S 990 

Sarah 428 

Speare, Arnold 815 

Benjamin 817 

Elkanah 813 

Joseph 818 

Lydia 819 

Nancy 814 

^Villiam 816 

Sprague, Abigail 5(50 

Anne 553 

Benjamin ..1613 

Edward 545 

" Eenner — oil 
" Hezekiah.. 915 

H 1130 

Fanny W 1131 

Freelove 565 

Hezekiah 550 

555 

Iludussah 554 

John 910 

" 1135 

Jonathan 548 

540 

564 

Joseph 557 

" 909 

Lydia 551 

" 914 

Mary Comstock — 1 129 
Mehitable 556 



254 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Sprague, Mercy 559 

jSTathan 56f) 

Ealph 542 

Piichard 548 

Eoby 1015 

Eutii 552 

" 502 

Sarah 558 

" 561 

" Fenner 912 

Susan L 1133 

Thomas 503 

913 

1128 

William 544 

T 1134 

SpriiiET, Marcus 711 

.. " Lydia 099 

Staples, Elizabeth 1270 

Ezra 604 

Judith 503 

Mehitabie... 1208 

Mary 41 

Steere, Andrew 252 

Anthony 70 

Arnold 772 

David 255 

Edward 052 

Elisha 251 

Elmira 777 

Pranklin 774 

A 1085 

Georf^e 775 

Isis 951 

Jemima 770 

Joanna 950 

Lydia 778 

Nathan 250 

Kachel 257 

Eichard 771 

773 

1084 

Eoger 1080 

Susanna 253 

Thomas 19 

250 

254 

Urana 1210 

William 949 

Stetson, Emilv 1039 

Orlando 1119 

Streeter, Lydia 1711 

Sweat, Enoch J 740 

Taf t, Aaron 108 

. . Catharine 1310 

. . Mercy 1319 

. . Margaret 1315 



Taft, Mary 1318 

Paul 1314 

Peter 107 

Prudence 1307 

AVillard 983 

Thayer, Aaron 1320 

1331 

Abigail 1457 

Amos 801 

Ariel 1455 

Asenath 1445 

1452 

Benjamin 1324 

1449 

Dianna 1459 

Elijah 1332 

Elizabeth 1322 

Ekma 1329 

Hannah 1321 

Jemima 1323 

Joanna 1327 

Joseph 1442 

1444 

Judith 1458 

Laurania 1451 

1454 

Lavina 1330 

Lucina 1450 

Lucinda 989 

Naomi .1232 

Nicholas 1453 

1450 

Otis 1447 

Phebe 1333 

" 1448 

" 1400 

Eachel 1320 

Eeuben 1443 

Sallv 818 

Stephen H 986 

Susanna 1325 

Urania 1328 

Welcome 1440 

Thomas, Mary 1048 

Thompson, Abner 1391 

Allen 1408 

Arnold 808 

Edward 1390 

Fenner 865 

Hannah 1394 

Hyrena 870 

Levi 1409 

J.eAvis 8f)7 

J^ucina 1472 

Marv s71 

" ■ 1473 

Nancy 800 



HISTORY or WOONSOCKET. 



255 



Tlioin])S()n, Oliicy SC>4 

•' SOS) 

" 1892 

" 181)3 

Plio])e 872 

Wl!ii)i)le 1-K)7 

AVillard 1470 

AVilliaiii lS7o 

1471 

Thornton, Daniel 48!) 

Tillingiuist, Joseph I(i(i5 

Mary 1715 

Patience 171(5 

William KiOO 

Terry, Eben 700 

Troop, Amos 1(573 

Twitchell, Patience 1205 

Verry, Abigail 1478 

Foster 1475 

George F 15(35 

Hannah 1479 

James 1482 

Mary Ann 1483 

Nancy 1477 

Nathan 1474 

1480 

T 15(54 

Sally 147(5 

Saniuel 1481 

Wall, Caleb 357 

Thomas 35(5 

William 1(!()8 

Westcott, Tabitha IGKi 

Margaret 1(520 

Wheeelock, David 935 

D. S 733 

Marcns 934 

Paris 939 

Phe!)e 93(i 

Pollv 932 

Silas 931 

Submit 933 

Whipple, Alice 11(54 

Amey 1411 

Anna s:)i) 

Bela S54 

Betsey 85 < 

Daniel ]42i; 

Dorcas 1420 

Eleazer 129 

Ellen 422 

Ferdinand 1023 

George A 1137 

Hannah 129 

James 855 

Jol) 14(1 



Whipple, John Pain(! 1139 

Eewis 1022 

" 1024 

Lydia 1141 

iSrargery llfii; 

Martha 1555 

Mary I4(i!! 

Mercy 4 ! I 

I'rnsha 858 

Sarah 85(5 

" 1140 

Sophia 1138 

Stei)lien 853 

Welcome 860 

Benjamin 1305 

White, Betlianv 1311 

Be.ulah 1313 

Cynthia (304 

Gideon ..1310 

Hannah (10(5 

Henrietta (500 

Hepsibah 1312 

Isaiah 599 

Jonathan 1309 

Levi 1306 

Lucv 609 

Eydia 001 

]N[argary (302 

INlarv (305 

Molly 1308 

Nancy 003 

Paul 1307 

Peregrine 598 

Sally 610 

Sam'uel 597 

008 

Susan (;07 

Wilbour, Patience 820 

Wilcox, Daniel 1302 

Wilder, George C 1113 

AV'ilkinson, David 47 

Eliza 714 

James 023 

]\[ary A 1192 

Patience 119 

Puth 112 

Sarah 1714 

Williams, Marv 992 

Philadelphia 359 

Thomas 358 

Wilson, Susanna 526 

Wing, I)e])orah .1177 

AVinsor, Naomi 1643 

Woodwaid, JSIary ;',s 

Young, Pollv 971 



Appendix B. 



A List of Woonsocket Officers, 

FKOM ITS 

Incorporation in 1867 to 1876. 



TOWN CLEEKS. 

Francello G. Jillson 1807 Albert E. Greene 1874 

TOWN treasurers. 

Herbert F. Keitli 1867 Theodore M. Cook 1860 

TOWN SERGEANTS. 

Horace M. Pierce 1807 George C. Wilder 18GS 

TOWN COUNCILS. 
1807. 
Clinton Puffer, President. 
James C. Molten, Lewis F. Cook, 

Jos. L. Brown, George A. Grant. 

1868. 
George W. Jenckes, President. 
Allen Thayer, Benjamin S. Burlingame, 

Jos. B. Aldrich, Willis Wales. 

1809. 
(Same.) 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 257 

1870. 
Xiitlmiiicl Elliott, President. 
Daniel B. I'ond, Edwin B. Miller, 

Seldon A. Ijailoy, Alanson 8woet. 

1871. 
Xathaniel Elliott, Tresident. 
Daniel B. Pond, John A. Bennett, 

Edwin B. JVIiller, Seldon A. Bailev, 

Albert J. Elwell, Seth T. Aldrich: 

1872. 
(Same, except Allen Thaj-er, in place of Daniel B. Pond.) 

187:]. 
(Same.) 
1874. 
A. J. Elwell, President. 
Nathaniel Elliott, Cyrus Arnold, 

Lebbeus C. Tourtellot, Allen Thayer, 

Albert P. Holley, James M. "Cook. 

1875. 
A. J. Elwell, President. 
Lebbeus C. Tourtellot, Cyrus Arnold, 

Albert P. Ilolley, John II. Sherman, 

John Currier, John Connolly. 



NATIONAL orncERS. 

187C). 

Hon. L. W. Ballon, U. S. House llepresentatives. 

Thomas A. Paine, U. S. Internal Ilevenue Assessor 

Stephen II. Brov/n, Postmaster. 



STATE OFFICERS. 

1870. 

Senator, 

Hon. Nathan T. Yerry, 

Ecpresentativcs, 
Hon. William E. Hubbard. 
" Nathaniel Elliott. 
" John A. Bennett. 
" Amos Slierman. 

Justice of Court of 3[(((iistr((tcs; 

Hon. George A. Wilbur. 

Clerk of Court of Mar/istrates, 

William H. Jenckos, Esq. 



258 



IITSTOr.Y OF WOONSOCKET. 



TOWN OFFICERS 

187i;. 

Moderator, 

James C. Molten. 

To^lm Clerl-, 

Albert E. Greene. 

T'oion Council, 

Francello G. Jillson, President. 



Moses P. Roberts, 
William E. Grant, 
Alanson Sweet, 



John II. Sherman, 
John A. C. Wightman, 
Henry M. Grout. 
Toicn Treasurer, 
Theodore M. Cook. 

Toivn Sergeant, 

George C. Wilder. 

Auctioneers, 

George S. Read, 
Reuben O. Cook, 
George L. White. 
Assessors of Taxes, 

Thomas B. Staples, 

Edwin B. Miller, 

Xewell A. Boutelle. 

Collector of Taxes, 

Benjamin Burt. 

Auditors of Accounts, 

Henry M. Grout, 
Moses P. Roberts. 
Committee on Finance. 

John A. C. Wig'htman, 
William E. Grant. 
Committee on Highways, 
John A. C. Wightman, William E. Grant, 

Alanson Sweet. 
Committee on Police, 
William E. Grant, John H. Sherman, 

Henry M. Grout. 
Committee on Town Projjerti/, 
Henry M. Grout, Alanson Sweet, 

John A. C. Wightman. 
Committee on JErection of Buildings, 
Moses P. Roberts, John II. Sherman, 

William E. Grant. 
Com7nissioner of Highways, 
Edwin B. Miller. 
Engineer, 
John W. Ellis. 



ISTathan T. Verry, 
Abel C. Monroe, 



Horace Cook, 
Charles Nourse, 



Jolni II. Sherman, 



Alanson Sweet, 



HISTOKY OF WOONSOCKET. 



250 



Horace M. Pierce, 
Lewis Haynes, 
Joseph P, Cliilds, 
Emery J. Arnold, 



Faipnaster of Highway Department, 
Albert E. Greene. 
Superintendent of Public Schools, 
Rev. Charles J. White. 
School Committee, 
Dr. G. ^V. Jenckes (Chairman), Albert A. Smitli, 
Erastus Richardson, Jonathan An(lr(nvs, 

Kev. Charles J. White, Alexander IJallon,' 

Amos Sherman. 
Overseer of the Poor, 
William M. Whitaker. 
Constables, 

]}arton A. Cook, 
Albert A. Sweet, 
Osmond S. Fuller, 
Charles S. Landers, 
Squier IL Eogers. 

Chief of Police, 

Alfred B. Church. 

Sergeant of Police, 

Leonard S. Allen. 

Police, 

Alfred E. Bartlett, 
William Dodge, 
Henry L. Cook, 
Proctor Ames. 
Police Constables {ivithout pay), 
Albert C. Smith, AYilliam II. Chipman, 

Henry T. Wales, Lysander W. Elliott, 

Kinsley Carpenter, Gylman Brown, 

Henry Adams, Edwartl Thurl^er, 

Clement E. Darling, John T. Chatterton, 

Oscar J. liathbun, Samuel A. Wyuii, 

Dennis McNamee, James M. Jaques, 

Milton A. Grant, William L. Darling, 

Benjamin Greene. 
Police Constables under the Liquor Lav:, 
Leonard S. Allen, Alfred E. Bartlett, 

James ]Moiiahan, Hiram A. Smith, 

William Dodge, Felix Beadreau, jr., 

Henry L. Cook, Erskine S. (Jrover, 

Proctor Ames, Jolm B. Batcliellor, 

Albert A. Sweet, Sipiier H. ]^)gers, 

James Austin, lleiiiy T. Wales, 

George L. White, Bart()n A. Cook, 

Osmond T. Fuller. 
Senler of LeatJier, 
Allen B. Jillson. 
Sealer nf Weights and Measures, 
Henry J. Whitaker. 
Fence Viewers, 
(Jeorge C. AVilder, Thomas B. Staples, Albert A. Smith. 



James Monahan, 
Hiram A. Smith, 
Erskine S. Grover, 
Felix Beadreau, jr., 



2G0 HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 

Puhlic Weighers of Coal, 
Nerval D. Woodwortb, Henry Andrews, 

Charles A. Chase, jr., James W. Greene, 

Lysander W. Elliott, Napoleon B. Morrison, 

Albertus Dean. 
Corders of Wood, 
Aaron B. Warfield, Lncien D. Cook, 

Napoleon B. Morrison, Levi L. Pierce, 

William N. Cook, Thomas B. Staples, 

Albert M. Wetherell, Eeuben O. Cook, 

Osmond S. Fuller. 

ISnperintendent of Street Lights, 
Allen Thayer. 

Committee on Toii:n Hall, 
Seth L. Weld. 
Committee on Soldiers' Aid, 
Albert E. Greene. 
Committee to enforce the Dog Laic, 
O. J. Jenison. 
Appraiser under the Bog Laio, 
Joseph P. Childs. 
Health Officers, 
Dr. Geo. W. Jenckes, ' Seth L. Weld, 

Andrew J. Varney. 
Pound Keepers, 
Benjamin Burt, Joseph A. Ilimes, 

Joel Crossman, 
Field Drivers, 
AVilliam Wood, George E. Ilawes, 

Charles II. Darling, Theodore M. Cook, 

Charlie W. Sherman, Frank A. Childs, 

Frank A. Jackson, Charles II. Pond, 

Frank P. Lee, Charles N. Elliott, 

Farnum B. Smith, William J. Milan, 

Charles F. Ilixon, William C. Monroe, 

Seth Arnold, jr., L. Leprelet Miller, 

James M. Phelps, Alvah Vose, 

Lawton Lapham. 

. Surveyors of Luraher, 
Lewis F. Cook, Joseph 11. Bailey, 

John II, Learned, Allen Thayer, 

George A. Whipple. 

Coroners, 
Dr. xiriel Ballon, Dr. George W. Jenckes, 

Dr. Ara M. Paine, Dr. William C. Monroe. 

Undertal'ers, 
Clinton Puffer, Israel B. Phillips, 

AVilliam Meagliei-, AVilliam McCanna. 



liegular meetings of the Town Council and Court of Probate on the 
first Tuesday in each month. Court of Probate at 2 o'clock, and Town 
Council at 3 o'clock p. m., at the Town Clerk's Office. 



Index to History. 



Page 

Academy, Cumberland i)-J, 

Smithfield i)l 

" Thornton 90 

Albion 162 

Aldrich, Judge Caleb 56 

" [Moses 55 

" Wellington 72 

Allen Crawford 151 

" Walter 72 

American Worsted Company. 157 

Angell, John 41 

Armory Hall 110 

Arnold and Lvman Purchase .133 

Division of. ..138-140 

Arnold, Anthony 18, 49 

" Benjamin 10 

" Mrs. Cyrus.. 8 

Daniel 10,40 

" Edmund 40 

" Eleizer 41 

" Elisha 47 

Elizabeth 27 

Israel 40 

James 18, 50, 120-133 

" John 16, 45, 46 

John, 2d 40 

" Cov. L. Hastings . .43, 138 

" Dr. Jonathan 43 

" Jonathan E 5 

Joseph.. 10, 43, 70-71, 126 

" r 10 

" Josiah 43 

]Moses 18 

]\>leg 43, 71, 103 

llicluird 16, 30-40, ^0 

2d 42 

3d 12 



Page 

Arnold, Seth 18, 40 

Dr. Seth 44 

Hon. Samuel G 138 

Smith 19 

Stephen 32, 43 

Thomas.... 27, 43, 71, 143 
William..l8, 27, 43, 46, 72 
Dr. AVilliam 71 

Attleboro', Incorporation of. . 15 

Balkcom, John 70 

Bailey Washing and Wringing 

Machine Coiiipany 146-148 

Bailey, Seldon A 147 

Ballon, Dr. Ariel 92 

" Charles F 8 

Dexter. .98,128,130-141, 

168, 135 
r.allou, George C 136-138, 154 

IIosea....l34, 142-143, 171 

Hon. L. W 7, 10 

" Oliver and Son 134 

OtisD 74 

Baptists 83, 84 

Bennett, Hon. John A 167 

liernon, Gabriel 156 

Bick, James 18 

Blackstone Canal 1(')5 

Blackstone, William 26 

Boundary Disputes 14 

Boyden, Hev. John S'i, 98 

Bridges 61-63 

Brown, Stephen II 178 

Buffuni, D. D 18 

Bull, Isaac M 166 

] >urg('ss, Trist am 5 

Burnhani, "rncle" John 178 

Buslioe, Trof. James 92 



262 



HISTOllY OF WOONSOUKET. 



Capron, Elislui 48 

Carrington, Gen. Edward. 1G4-1G5 
Celebration, 4th of July, 1833 . . 5 
1835.. 5 
1838.. 6 
1846. .6, 1 
1848.. 7 
1875.. 8 
1876.8-11 

Chapin, Samuel 17 

Coe, Ephraim 50 

(Jomstock, Dr. Ezekiel 73 

■' Gideon (;0 

" Ilezadiali 43, 70 

" Samuel 27 

( 'onsi'Pg'ationalists 86 

Consolidated School District. . 98 

Cook, Ebenezer 19 

" Lyman A 6, 93, 148 

" ]^icholas 19 

" S. S 147 

" Willis 93, 144 

Cooper, Abner 175 

Cranston, Henry Y 5 

Crutt' House .56 

CXunberland Cadets 110 

Cumljerland, Incorporation of 16 

Daniels, Dan. A 133, 149, 171 

Davis, George F. & Co 153 

Deed— Chapin to Arnold 17 

Indians to First Set- 
lers. 30 

Demagogues 172 

Depot at Woonsocket 182 

Dexter, Lewis 186 

Divisions of Land (lirst) 31 

Dor, rSullivan 151 

Dorrnead, The 106 

Dorr, Thomas W 107 

Education 87 

Episcopalians 81 

Failures of 1829 168 

1835 172 

Famine caused by frosts in 

1816 , 169 

Fairmount Farm Co 48 

Farnum, ^Velcome 168, 134 

Fire of 1829 135 

" 1837 141 

" 1874 128 

First Settlers of Wooonsocket 

27, 44, 50 

Fitten, ]i,ev. James 84 

Forge, Tlie Old 55 



Foss, S. S 145 

Freshet of 1807 56 

1876 56 

Gale of 1815. 167 

1876 85 

Genealogy, Arnold 187 

Cook 224 

" Harris 233 

Mowry 221 

Glackin, John Ill 

Grant, John IW 

Greene, Il^athaniel 8i 

" Samuel 156, 170 

" Timothy & Son 170 

Grist Mill of John Arnold 55 

Hard Times 167 

Harris, Edward 98, 158 

Harris Lime Eock Co 162 

Harris, Mrs. Eachel F 98 

Samuel B 142, 162 

William 161,173 

Harris Woolen Co 143 

High School-house 98 

Highways 57 

' " " A List of, in 1748... 64 

Holbrook, Cephas 5 

Hopkins, Stephen 77 

" "W^illiam 55 

Hotel, Woonsocket 74 

Ignorance 89, 94 

Inhabitants of Smithfield in 

1748 64 

Inman, Edward 30 

Introduction to History 11 

Jeif yrs, Lapham 47 

Jenckes, Hon. Thomas A — 93 
Jillson, Hon. F. G 9 

Lapham, Judge Thomas 55 

Law, George 146 

Library, Carrington 99 

" Cumberland 89 

" Harris Institute — 99 

" Woonsocket 89 

Line, "The Seven Mile" 28 

Lippitt, Gov. Henry 155 

Li(iuor Law in 1729 69 

Literary Enterprises 144 

LogeeHill 50 

Lougee, S. IsT 9 

Mann, Stafford (>2 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



2G3 



]\Iant(iii, E(hv;ii(l 40 

]\[:isoii, Stephen X ir>2 

May, Lemuel l.")! 

MedicalPrescri])tioiis, Ancient 8'.) 

Mendon 17 

Merriman. Cliarles II 155 

ISIetealt' INIachine Shop 1 IT 

Metealf, W. &\Y 152 

jMetliodists 85 

Military Comi^any, Members 

of An"cient lf)l 

Mill, American Worsted Co.. 157 

" Ballon i;]l: 

" Eartlett 151 

" Bernon 155 

" Clinton 147 

" Enterprise 48 

" Globe 154 

" Groton 140 

" Hamlet W^ 

" Harris No. 1 l;]0 

" Harris Cotton 142 

" Harris AVoolen 14o 

" Lippitt 141, 152 

" Lyman 121, 131 

" "i). X. Paine" 152 

" "The Pistareen" 128 

" Pond "VYarp 15;) 

" Social 127 

]\Iiller, Eev. Joseph L 82 

jNloiuunent House 75 

Mowrv, Henry 70 

" ' John' :)0 

" Nathaniel ;U 

Murray, Re\'. Eol)ert 82 

Newman, Ilev. Samuel i;5 

" Benjamin B I(i2 

Officers from Woonsocket in 

the Rebellion 112 

"Old Maids' Estate" 47 

Olney Thomas 41 

Osborne, Mrs. Eliza 4;] 

John !)0 

Paine, Judge Arnold 55, 102 

" Thomas A . . 44, i;«, 154, 171 

Pawtuxet Controversy 28 

Peclc Genealogy K) 

Peck, Ira B 1)2 

Periodicals— 
"The Farm and Fireside" . .145 

"Xews-Letter' 145 

"Patriot" 145 

"Haiidiow" 145 



Periodicals — 

"I»e])orter" 1 15 

"Hhode Island Ad vocalc". .145 
"Rhode Island Sentinel" . . .145 

Politics 172 

Pond, ]). B 15:; 

Post Office 17S 

Powers, Rev. James ]■' 8J 

Prentice, Georg(^ 1) 92 

Providence, Original Proj)rie- 

tors 27 

Providence Purchase 27 

Quakers 75 

Quaker Meeting-house— 

]Mendon 78 

Providence 77 

Woonsocket 77 

Puiilroads 178, 183 

" 0])i)()sition to 179 

Air Line 182 

" Providence andWor- 

cester 170 

Rathbun, Aaron 152 

Read, John SO 

Reddy, Michael .1(5:] 

Rehoboth 1:5 

Richardson, Erastus 8 

" Jonathan 10 

River, Course of 20 

" Names of , — 20 

Robinson, Christoi)her . . 5, 8:3, 

92, 182, 16:? 

Robinson, Henry II 10 

Roman Catholics 84 

Russell, Jonathan 170 

Sanford, Thomas 18 

Saw-mill of Richd. Arnold. .30, 54 

Sayles, Ejthraim • 29 

SaylesIIill ;]0 

Sayles, Welcome B 108 

Scenery at ^Voonsocket in 

ancient times 122 

School Committee 88, 05 

Schools established byQuakers 87 

" Free 88 

School-houses, ancient 90 

Scliools, Woonsocket 03 

Scythe Shoi) 50 

Seagraves & Harris 142 

"Seacuncke" i:; 

Scnelchoiu't Island 25 

Sherman, \Villiam N 145 

Sililcv. Darius 1.52 



264 



HISTORY OF WOONSOCKET. 



Slater, Sanniel 1G9 

Sly, Lieut. Stephen 70 

eriiith, A. D. & J. Y 14G 

Smithfiekl, Division of 33 

" Incorporation of . . 32 

Smith, Mrs. Eeuel 84 

Stephen 11 1G6 

Social Manufacturing Co 127 

Speare, Lieut. Elkanah 102 

Sprague, Edward H G, 154 

" Jonathan 18 

" Thomas & Sons 154 

Stage Coaches 175 

" Aliner Cooper, the 

first driver 175 

Stage Coaches, names of driv- 
ers 176 

Staples, E'athan 43 

Steere, John 31 

" Thomas 7, 41 

Stocks— First pair in Smith- 
lield 70 

Talbot, Eev. T. 13 82 

'J'averns G9 

Taxpayers, A List of, in 1713. 50 

Thayer, Samuel 19 

Thornton, Elisha 79, 89 

I'inkers' Corner 75 

Todd, P. P 7 

Tourtellot, Col. J^. C...7, 110, 157 

Town Clerks of Cumberland . . 20 

Smithfiekl.... 33 

" " Woonsocket. .250 

" Councilmen of Cumber, . 21 

" " Smith.... 34 

Woon....256 

" Sergeants of Cumber 21 

Smith.... 34 
Woon. . . .250 



Town Treasurers of Cumber. . . 20 

" " Smith 33 

Woon. . . .250 

Transportation 174 

Tyranny of Cotton Manufac- 
turers 172 

Universalists 82 

Valley Falls 159 

Verin, Joshua 25 

Yose, Willing .50 

Wading-places on the Ptiver . . 25 

Walling, Thomas 31 

War— the Dorr 105 

King Philip's 100 

The Mexican 110 

The Old French 102 

TheEebellion Ill 

" Pevolution 102 

AVardwell, George S 166 

Wasquadomisk 29 

Water-power 124 

Wayunckeke 28 

Whipping-post— 

The first in Smithfiekl 70 

At Woonsocket 73 

Whipple, John Paine 147 

White, Eev. Charles J 83 

" "Squire" Aaron 181 

Wilkinson, Abraham & Isaac 

160, 169 

Willitt, Capt. Thomas 14 

Woonsocket Cornet Eand. 113, 114 

" Furnace Co 143 

Guards 109 

" " Members of. 114 

Light Infantry.. 109 

" Machine Co 143 

Eubber Works .. 148 



/ 



y 928 



